Bot

Derived as a short form from the English word “robot”. “Bot” refers to the IT version of a robot: a computer program that automatically and independently performs certain tasks.

What does the term bot mean in detail?

• Bots are versatile. The bots that independently visit and evaluate websites for search engines are very well-known. Other bots answer customer questions, control content in forums and chats, or replace human game partners in computer games.
• However, bots are also used by cybercriminals. For example, they can be programmed to automatically send spam emails, find server vulnerabilities, or perform denial of service attacks. Such bots are malicious programs (malware).
• Malware bots can get onto your computer or corporate network through email attachments, downloads, and security vulnerabilities, among other things. After that, cybercriminals can spy on your company or use your IT resources for themselves, e.g. to send spam emails.
• Cybercriminals can network bots on different computers. Then a botnet is created that can be used by the cybercriminals or even rented out.
  “Social bots” represent a special category. They are used in social media such as Twitter and Facebook, e.g. to influence the formation of political opinion.

Where do I encounter bots in my everyday work?

Indirectly, you will encounter bots every time you search via a search engine. This is because many results come from bots. Malware bots can come across you in the form of suspicious email attachments or dubious downloads. If there’s already a bot on your computer, you probably won’t notice it. Even if it is part of a botnet and uses your internet connection, it usually remains unobtrusive due to the high connection speeds.

What can I do to protect myself from bots?

Many cyber risk mitigation measures protect you and your business from bots. These include, in particular:

• Critical handling of e-mails and the links and attachments contained in them
• Critical handling of downloads
• A firewall that monitors outgoing traffic
• Keep operating systems and all software up to date with updates
  Check the system regularly with up-to-date virus scanners