Comprehensive Guide to Botnet Detection: Best Practices

As technology becomes more embedded in our daily routines, the risk of cyber attacks is growing more significant. Bots and botnets are key drivers behind these threats. These automated, malicious tools have the potential to disrupt and damage businesses and their online operations severely.

Consequently, detecting botnets has become a top priority in cybersecurity. Yet, many businesses are still unaware of how rapidly this threat is expanding. Cybersecurity Ventures reports that "cybercrime is expected to cost the world $9.5 trillion USD in 2024."

No business, whether small or large, is immune to these attacks. Therefore, raising awareness is essential. By gaining the right knowledge and adopting preventive measures, companies can stay vigilant, preventing botnets from causing harm such as data breaches, click fraud, malware, and other cyber-related damage.

Botnets Explained: How They Operate and What to Do About Them

Before getting into best practices for detecting botnets, let’s start with a quick overview of bots and botnets. We’ll look at how they function, what they’re capable of, and the steps to manage and mitigate their impact.

What is a Bot?

A bot, short for “robot,” is a software application that performs automated tasks online. Bots serve many purposes, such as web crawling, indexing, and general automation.

However, when bots are programmed with harmful intentions, they pose a serious security risk. Hackers can create malicious bots that imitate human actions to repeatedly perform tasks. For instance, they may watch videos, click ad links, or interact with social media posts to artificially inflate engagement.

A botnet is formed when multiple bots are connected and directed to work together toward a single goal. Essentially, it’s a network of computers infected with malware, all controlled by a single attacker, known as a “botmaster.”

Botnets are created when malware spreads across numerous devices—such as computers, smartphones, and other Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets. IoT devices, which include everything from smartwatches to home automation systems, connect to the internet and share information to simplify daily tasks.

Infected devices, often called “zombie devices” or simply “zombies,” join forces to create a “zombie army” or botnet. Each infected device amplifies the botnet’s power, making it an even greater threat. Without timely intervention, this "zombie army" can cause significant damage.

Common Types of Botnets and Their Attacks

Botnets vary widely in design, each tailored to carry out specific types of cyberattacks. Here are some of the most common types of botnets and the attacks they execute:

DDoS botnets: distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) botnets are created to launch DDoS attacks, which flood a website, network, or server with massive amounts of traffic from multiple sources. This causes systems to crash or become inaccessible. Cybercriminals often use DDoS attacks to extort businesses or divert attention while conducting other attacks, such as stealing data or installing malware.

Click bots: click bots are used in click fraud and ad fraud schemes. By generating fake clicks on ads, these bots help attackers profit or waste competitors’ ad budgets. This artificial engagement skews traffic statistics and drains advertising funds. While detection techniques are constantly evolving (such as those by Google Ads), click bots’ sophisticated algorithms make them difficult to detect.

Scraper bots: scraper bots are programmed to steal data or scrape website content. They often target personal information like login credentials or credit card details, which may then be used for identity theft or sold on the dark web.

Scalper bots: scalper botnets are used to buy large quantities of in-demand products almost instantly, allowing botmasters to resell them at higher prices. These bots are especially common with event tickets, limited edition items, and major retail sales. Recently, scalper bots caused significant disruption during ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s concerts.

Spam bots: spam bots are used to distribute phishing emails or spam, aiming to trick users into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware. These bots can send millions of emails in minutes, making them powerful tools for cybercriminals.

Each botnet type poses unique challenges, impacting businesses and users in different ways. Understanding these threats is essential for effective botnet prevention and mitigation strategies.

Protecting Your Business from Botnets

With an understanding of different types of botnets and their attacks, let's focus on strategies to protect your business. Botnet attacks can be highly damaging, but by adopting sound security practices, you can minimize these risks. Here are key steps to prevent botnets from infiltrating your business:

Essential Botnet Prevention Strategies

1. Strengthen Security Practices

Protect your business by reinforcing security protocols across all devices, network infrastructure, and software. Make sure you have a reliable antivirus and firewall in place, and keep all software and operating systems updated with the latest security patches to guard against vulnerabilities.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Using 2FA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a one-time code or confirmation from a trusted device, even if a password is compromised. This makes it harder for hackers to gain access to accounts or devices.

3. Foster Cybersecurity Awareness

Educate employees on recognizing phishing emails, suspicious attachments, and unsafe links. Regular cybersecurity training and reminders help reinforce best practices and promote safer internet usage.

4. Avoid Opening Suspicious Attachments or Links

Botnet malware often spreads through email attachments or links. If you suspect an email is phishing, avoid opening attachments or clicking links, even if it appears to be from a trusted source. Scan attachments with antivirus software and check link URLs by hovering over them.

5. Monitor Network and Ad Traffic

Botnets can produce unusual traffic patterns. Use network monitoring tools (such as Google Analytics) to detect suspicious spikes in activity. Regularly monitor ad traffic for unusual behavior as well.

6. Update Operating Systems Regularly

Since botnets often exploit operating system vulnerabilities, keeping your systems updated with security patches is essential for defense.

By following these practices, you can reduce the risk of botnet attacks on your business. Being proactive in your security approach is crucial, as botnet attacks can have severe consequences.

Practical Botnet Detection Techniques

Detecting botnets can be challenging, as botmasters continuously refine their techniques to evade detection. However, it’s possible to identify and mitigate botnet activity with a combination of specialized tools and practical techniques.

Recognizing Signs of Botnet Infiltration

Signs Your Device Might Be Part of a Botnet:

• Slower device performance: botnets consume system resources, which can cause noticeable lag.
• Increased battery drain: bot activity can drain battery life faster than usual.
• Suspicious apps or processes: look for unfamiliar programs running on your device, as they could be bot-related.
• Unusual data usage: a sudden increase in data usage may indicate botnet communication with command servers.
• Unusual system behavior: unexpected shutdowns, error messages, or browser changes could suggest a botnet infection.
• Pop-ups and spam messages: receiving unfamiliar ads or spam could mean your device is being used to send malicious messages.

Signs Your Business May Be Targeted by a Botnet:

• Unusual activity times: traffic spikes outside business hours or during low-traffic periods could indicate a botnet attack.
• Slow network speeds: high botnet activity can strain network resources, slowing connections.
• Unexplained data transfers: suspicious connections to unknown IP addresses could signify a botnet attack.
• Unauthorized system access: unapproved access to systems or data can indicate a compromised network.

Signs of Botnet Influence on Ads or Campaigns:

• High click-through rate (CTR): a significant increase in CTR could signal click bots.
• High bounce rate: bots may visit your site without engaging, leading to a higher bounce rate.
• Low conversion rate: traffic from bots tends not to convert into sales or leads.
• Traffic spikes: unusual traffic surges may suggest botnet interference.
• Repeated visits from the same IP: this could indicate a botnet targeting your campaigns.
• Unfamiliar user agents: a sudden influx of unknown devices may hint at bot activity.
• Quick ad budget depletion: rapid budget spend without matching engagement suggests bot clicks.

Using specialized tools like Tapper can automate botnet detection, protecting your campaigns from malicious clicks and invalid traffic. Tapper provides a comprehensive approach to blocking fake traffic and ensures your ad spend targets real, engaged users.

By integrating these strategies, you can keep your marketing efforts on track and enhance your botnet defense.