IoT Botnets

About

An IoT botnet is a network of compromised Internet of Things (IoT) devices that are remotely controlled by cybercriminals for malicious purposes. These devices include smart home appliances, cameras, routers, and more. IoT botnets are used for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, spreading malware, and data theft. They exploit weak security in IoT devices, often using default credentials or unpatched vulnerabilities to infect them. Once infected, devices can be commanded to overwhelm networks with traffic, disrupting services. IoT botnets are a significant threat due to their ability to scale, using thousands of devices to launch massive attacks. The Mirai botnet, for example, demonstrated the potential of IoT botnets in large-scale DDoS attacks. To mitigate these threats, improving IoT security through better authentication and regular updates is crucial. IoT botnets pose risks across industries, making them a critical cybersecurity concern.