The word botnet is a blend of the words "robot" and "network." Here’s a brief botnet definition: a botnet is a network of computers running bots under the control of a bot herder. Bots are software applications that run automated scripts over a network, while a bot herder is a person controlling and maintaining the botnet.
There is nothing inherently evil about a botnet. Botnets can perform many repetitive tasks. They can allow a bot herder to grow, automate, and speed up operations by accessing more resources from participants.
A botnet infection is dangerous because its symptoms aren’t always cut and dry. Botnet symptoms can result from another type of malware, hardware issues, or software updates. Download Malwarebytes free to scan your computer for malware, and review your security settings if you notice some of the following symptoms, just to be safe: