Malware has the potential to harm your computer in a number of ways, whether it be your PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet. A botnet is formed when the security of multiple computers is breached with the same strain of malware, forming a network of machines that the criminal can now remotely manage. This means that your machine, amongst the others in your network, has effectively become a tool for the hacker to use to their own gain.<\/p>\n
Determining if you\u2019re part of a botnet<\/span> Why do it? The consequences to you In 2016, the \u2018Mirai botnet\u2019 distributed a wide scale DDoS attack throughout its network, leaving most of the internet inaccessible on the US East Coast. Scarily enough, the Mirai botnet is still up and running and gaining strength along the way.<\/p>\n How does it happen? Removing botnet malware It\u2019s worth ensuring you have a solid defence against cybercrime as the consequences can have a devastating impact on your business. To find out how you can insure your business in the event of a cyber-attack, call amb insurance services\u00a0on 01782 740044.<\/strong>\u00a0We can arrange comprehensive cyber insurance to cover you and your business in events such as data breaches, business interruption, system damage and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Malware has the potential to harm your computer in a number of ways, whether it be your PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet. A botnet is formed when the security of multiple computers is breached with the same strain of malware, forming a network of machines…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":499,"featured_media":23898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial","category-financial"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/strong>A cybercriminal can potentially control up to millions of computers in the same network. Despite being infected with malware, your machine may still be acting completely normally, which means it\u2019s very hard to tell if you\u2019re part of a botnet. However, there are some signs to look out for.<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Cybercriminals use their \u2018zombie\u2019 network in order to commit other crimes such as denial of service (DDoS) attacks, online fraud and spreading further malware or spam\/phishing campaigns. They can then either sell or rent their network to other criminals.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The everyday repercussions of unwittingly becoming part of a botnet include; high internet bills, access issues and slow and unstable computer performance. There\u2019s also the potential for much more serious consequences including legal repercussions, data breaches and identity theft.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Your computer could be infected in a number of ways. Malware is often transmitted through downloads, file sharing, fake scanning, email attachments, social media sites and apps. You\u2019re more at risk if you have no\/outdated internet security software.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>To defend against botnet malware, only download from verified sites and legitimate trusted sources. Keep your system regularly updated and install a piece of reputable anti-virus software onto your machine. If you\u2019ve detected malware on a machine in your workplace, or on a personal machine which has been connected with a work computer, your entire network has a good chance of being infected. Scan all of your machines in this instance along with USB drives and mobile\/portable devices. There are specialised botnet removal tools for this very purpose.<\/p>\n