What are Botnets and what do they have to do with the Darknet?

Botnets are a type of cyber threat that has gained notoriety for their ability to wreak havoc on computer systems and steal sensitive information. Botnets are typically associated with the darknet, a part of the internet that is often used for illegal activities. In this article, we’ll explore what botnets are, their history, how they work, and their association with the dark net.

The History of Botnets

The first known botnet, known as “The Electronic Bunker,” was discovered in 1999. This botnet consisted of 20,000 infected computers and was used to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against various websites. Since then, botnets have become increasingly sophisticated, and today they are responsible for a large percentage of cyber attacks.

What are Botnets?

A botnet is a network of computers that have been infected with malicious software, or malware. This allows them to be controlled remotely by a single individual or group. The computers that make up a botnet are known as “bots” or “zombies”. They typically ordinary machines that have been compromised without the knowledge or consent of their owners.

Hackers tend to use botnets for a variety of purposes, including:

• • DDoS attacks: The botmaster can use the botnet to launch DDoS attacks against websites or servers. This involves overwhelming the target with traffic, making it inaccessible to legitimate users.

• • Spamming: The botmaster can use the botnet to send spam emails. This can be used to spread malware or promote fraudulent schemes.

• • Click fraud: The botmaster can use the botnet to click on ads or websites to generate revenue. This is known as click fraud.
  • Credential stuffing: The botmaster can use the botnet to try to log in to websites using stolen credentials. This can be used to steal personal information or money.

• Cryptojacking: The botmaster can use the botnet to mine cryptocurrencies. This involves using the processing power of the infected computers to solve complex mathematical equations and earn cryptocurrency.

How Do Botnets Work?

Botnets are typically created by infecting computers with malware. The most common way that computers are infected is through a phishing email or a malicious website. Once a computer is infected, it becomes part of the botnet and can be controlled by the botmaster.

Botnets are complex and sophisticated networks of infected computers, each controlled by a central command and control (C&C) server operated by the botmaster. The botmaster can use various methods to infect computers and add them to the botnet, including exploiting vulnerabilities, using social engineering techniques, or distributing malware through infected email attachments or malicious websites.

Once a computer is infected and added to the botnet, it becomes a bot and can be remotely controlled by the botmaster. The botmaster can send commands to the bots, instructing them to carry out various malicious activities. These commands can include downloading and executing additional malware, stealing sensitive information, or launching attacks on other computers or websites.

Technical Details of Botnets

To communicate with the bots, the botmaster typically uses a C&C server, which acts as a central point of control for the entire botnet. The C&C server sends commands to the bots, and the bots report back to the C&C server with information about their activities. This communication between the C&C server and the bots is typically encrypted to prevent detection and interception by security researchers or law enforcement.

In order to avoid detection, botnets often use techniques such as fast flux DNS, which involves constantly changing the IP addresses associated with the C&C server to make it harder to track down. Some botnets also use peer-to-peer (P2P) architectures, where the bots communicate directly with each other rather than relying on a central server.

Botnets can be extremely powerful and difficult to detect and neutralize. The sheer number of bots in a botnet means that even small-scale attacks can be highly effective. Additionally, botnets can use techniques such as domain generation algorithms (DGAs) to generate new C&C domains automatically, making it harder for security researchers to identify and take down the botnet.

Botnets and the Dark Net

Botnets are often associated with the dark net, a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and requires special software to access. The dark net is often used for illegal activities, such as selling drugs, weapons, or stolen information. In recent years the dark-net also became a haven for cyber-criminals looking for all sorts of hacking tools. Botnets as a service are also starting to gain a lot of popularity on the dark-net. Users can simply rent a bot-net from a larger hacking group in order to conduct an attack.

One of the most notorious botnets associated with the dark net is Mirai. Mirai first emerged in 2016 and was responsible for some of the largest DDoS attacks in history. Mirai infected IoT devices, such as routers and security cameras, and used them to launch coordinated attacks against high-profile targets, including Dyn, a major DNS provider. The attack on Dyn caused widespread disruption to popular websites such as Twitter, Netflix, and Reddit. Mirai was ultimately taken down by a group of security researchers, but its legacy lives on, as copycats and variants continue to be discovered in the wild.

Another well-known botnet is Necurs. Necurs is believed to have infected over 9 million computers worldwide and is responsible for a wide range of malicious activities, including spamming, click fraud, and distributing malware. Necurs is particularly notorious for its role in distributing the Dridex banking Trojan, which is responsible for stealing millions of dollars from banks and financial institutions around the world.

Zeus is another famous botnet that has been associated with the dark net. Zeus first emerged in 2007 and was one of the first botnets to target banking credentials. Zeus was responsible for stealing millions of dollars from banks and financial institutions around the world, and was also used for other malicious activities, such as distributing spam and launching DDoS attacks.

The most recent botnet to make the spotlight was owned Genesis hacking forum. It was available for rent and was rapidly growing, infecting over 550,000 computers at its peak. This botnet did not have much time to cause any damage as the forum was recently shut down by law enforcement.

Conclusion

Botnets are a serious cyber threat that can cause significant damage to computer systems and steal sensitive information. They are often associated with the dark net, where they can be used for illegal activities such as selling stolen information, launching DDoS attacks, and conducting cyber espionage. It is important for individuals and organizations to take steps to protect themselves from botnets, such as keeping their software up-to-date, using antivirus software, and being cautious when opening emails or clicking on links.

In conclusion, botnets are a complex and sophisticated cyber threat that poses a significant risk to individuals and organizations. Their association with the dark net only adds to the danger they pose. By understanding how botnets work and taking steps to protect themselves, individuals and organizations can reduce their risk of falling victim to a botnet attack.