There are a large number of Internet schemes and scams trying to get legitimate users to click on certain links. Many believe that the creators of these scams are after private information stored in your computer. While that may be true, the scenario can be more complicated. When the “payload” contained in a file of Internet website is downloaded to your computer and the malicious software executes, they control (or own) your computer. At that point, your system may become part of a bonnet with the bot master or bot herder in control of your resources.  A botnet is a collection of compromised computers, each of which is known as a ‘bot’, connected to the Internet. The botmaster or bot herder controls these compromised computers.  This may allow a hacker an opportunity to have sufficient resources and bandwidth to perpetrate larger-scale attacks or to further conceal the attacker’s real location.

AVM Technology recently spoke to Gray Hall of NBC 12 regarding the threat presented by Botnets, see the video below:

To read more about Botnets, you may visit AVM Technology’s Botnet blog post.