---
id: "botnet"
kind: "glossary-term"
title: "botnet"
language: "en"
category: "Security and abuse"
updated: "2026-10-04T14:01:23Z"
canonical: "https://tldlog.com/glossary/botnet/"
translations:
  es: "https://tldlog.com/es/glosario/botnet/"
  de: "https://tldlog.com/de/glossar/botnetz/"
  fr: "https://tldlog.com/fr/glossaire/botnet/"
  it: "https://tldlog.com/it/glossario/botnet/"
  pt-BR: "https://tldlog.com/pt/glossario/botnet/"
  ru: "https://tldlog.com/ru/glossariy/botnet/"
  zh-Hans: "https://tldlog.com/zh/cihui/jiangshi-wangluo/"
---

# botnet

A network of computers infected with malware and controlled remotely by an attacker, often through domain names. It is one of the forms of DNS abuse that gTLD registries and registrars must act against under their ICANN contracts.

## related terms

- [malware](https://tldlog.com/glossary/malware/)
- [DNS abuse](https://tldlog.com/glossary/dns-abuse/)
- [takedown](https://tldlog.com/glossary/takedown/)