B is for Botnet
A “bot” is the term used for a software robot, that is, software that is set to run independently of users and automatically. A collection of PCs that have been infected by a bot can be connected by the bot across the Internet or internal network to create a botnet - a network of sofware robots. Such a group of PCs can then be controlled remotely by the originator of the bot to perform illegal activity such as sending spam. On one occasion, Dutch police discovered a botnet of 1.5 million PCs. PCs not protected by a good antivirus and firewall are most at risk of being caught up in a botnet. PC security firms estimate that, world-wide, one quarter of all PCs may become part of a botnet.
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