Botnet: A Threat of Computer

Cyber crime are increasing day by day with the increase in usages of computer and internet. The cyber criminals are working and giving their best and hard effort to list the computers in a network called botnet, which is used later for committing crime. The term “bot” is short form of robot. Cyber criminals can distribute malware, which can turn your computer into a bot. when this occurs; your computer can perform the automated task on internet with out your knowledge. Bots are normally used to infect large number of computer, which forms a network called botnet. Botnet are used to send spam email messages, spread virus, spyware and commit crime and fraud.

So now I guess you are already familiar with the term “Botnet”. This kind of program is well developed program, and it’s very difficult to detect it. They will be running on your background without your knowledge. So you need to be very much conscious about your computer; like practicing healthy (computer maintenance), constantly updating (new windows updates) and the antivirus on your computer.

I will provide you with some symptoms by the help of which you can check whether your computer has become a part of the botnet or not?

·         Computer takes too much time to shut down or won’t shut down properly.

·         You cannot download software updates, antivirus.

·         Your computer processor starts working slow.

·         Internet access will be very slow.

·         You receive pop-up windows and advertisements even when you are not using a web browser.

·         Windows Task manager shows programs with very hectic names or descriptions.

The main purposes for which cyber criminals intend to make you a part of botnet are two:

1.        They will install malware on your computer by taking advantage of unintended vulnerabilities of its software or by hacking into accounts guarded by weak passwords.

2.        They will try to trick you to install their malware programs.

Now I guess a question arising in your mind is: how to avoid and eliminate them?

The best solution to avoid or eliminate botnet is to strengthen your computer defense, and follow some easy steps and guidelines:

·         Installing and downloading antivirus and anti-spyware from trusted sites like Microsoft support

·         Keeping all your software up to date like updating your antivirus and windows operating system.

·         Use of strong password is highly recommended, because the weak password can be accessed easily by the hackers.

·         Never turn off your fire wall, because the firewall puts a protective barrier between your computer and internet.

·         Use the flash drive correctly, as putting the one which is infected may infect your computer drive as well as your computer setup completely.

·         And finally don’t get tricked and download the malware programs.

Sometime following of these easy steps can be very helpful to you, because the hacker always has got the latest software and updates in their system. This helps criminal to take easy access of the computer user, who are beginner or do not have much knowledge about computer. So be self cautious to protect your computer.