botnet: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “botnet” mean?
A network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group without the owners' knowledge, typically for malicious purposes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group without the owners' knowledge, typically for malicious purposes.
The term can also refer to the group of compromised devices themselves, or the coordinated infrastructure used to control them in cyberattacks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. British English tends to favour 'malicious' where American might use 'bad', but the term itself is identical.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media due to larger tech sector reporting, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “botnet” in a Sentence
The [authorities] dismantled the botnet.A botnet [was used] to launch the attack.The [malware] created a botnet of [thousands] of devices.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “botnet” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The devices were botnetted to send spam.
- Hackers aim to botnet vulnerable routers.
American English
- The malware botneted thousands of cameras.
- Their goal was to botnet the smart devices.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The company's servers were knocked offline by a massive botnet attack."
Academic
"The study analysed the command-and-control architecture of the Mirai botnet."
Everyday
"I read that hackers used a botnet to crash that popular website yesterday."
Technical
"The IoT devices were co-opted into a botnet using a default credential exploit."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “botnet”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “botnet”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “botnet”
- Spelling as 'bot net' (two words) in formal writing. It is a closed compound.
- Using it to refer to a single infected device (it's the entire network).
- Pronouncing it with a long 'o' as in 'boat'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A virus is a type of malware. A botnet is the network of devices infected *by* malware (like viruses or worms) and controlled centrally.
Yes, that is the defining characteristic. Devices in a botnet (often called 'zombies') are controlled remotely without the owner's knowledge, often showing only minor signs like slower performance.
Common uses include launching Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, sending massive volumes of spam email, stealing data, and click fraud.
In current usage, yes. It exclusively refers to networks set up for illicit activities. A legitimate network of software robots would not be called a botnet.
A network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group without the owners' knowledge, typically for malicious purposes.
Botnet is usually formal, technical, journalistic in register.
Botnet: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒt.net/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːt.net/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A botnet of zombie computers.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a NET catching BOTS (robots) to control them. A BOT-NET.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DIGITAL ARMY OF ZOMBIES (devices are 'enslaved' or 'turned' and controlled by a single commander).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a botnet?