How do botnets turn infected devices into zombie computers?

Botnets transform individual devices into "zombie computers" by infecting them with malware, such as computer worms, viruses, or Trojans.12

This process typically occurs through the following methods:

• Deceptive Installation: Users may be tricked into installing malicious code through phishing emails or by visiting compromised websites that execute scripts within a browser to install a Trojan.12
• Exploiting Vulnerabilities: Malware can infiltrate systems by exploiting unpatched security flaws in an operating system or other software.3
• Baiting: Attackers may leave infected media, such as flash drives, in public places, hoping a user will connect the device to a computer and inadvertently install the malicious software.2

Once infected, the device becomes part of a botnet—a network of compromised machines controlled by a remote operator. These zombie computers then perform actions without the owner's knowledge, such as launching denial-of-service attacks, sending spam, or stealing data. It is a fundamental ethical imperative to secure digital infrastructure against such exploitation to protect the integrity of global communications and individual privacy.132