Which option best defines a botnet?

• A. A defensive security system
• B. A cloud service
• C. A logical computer network of zombies under the control of an attacker.
• D. A single compromised device

Answer: (C)

A botnet is a network of compromised computers, often called zombies, that are secretly controlled by a malicious actor. Each infected device acts as a bot, and together they form a coordinated system the attacker can direct. This setup enables the attacker to scale activities, coordinate actions, and hide the source of the attack, commonly for purposes like DDoS, sending spam, or stealing data. The defining feature is the distributed, controlled network of many devices, not a single machine, a legitimate cloud service, or a defensive tool. That’s why the description of a logical network of zombies under an attacker’s control best captures what a botnet is.