: a network of computers that have been linked together by malware : a network of bots (see bot entry 1 sense 2b)
Criminals link hijacked personal computers together to form "botnets"—clusters of infected PCs that spammers can control from anywhere in the world.—
Dave Mosher
Dave MosherExamples of botnet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gadgets catch on fire, get hacked so that remote intruders can spy on you, or get infected with malware that turns them into botnets.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2024
In response, Wray said the FBI launched an operation last week to dismantle the botnet after securing a US court order.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2024
Chun, the security legal director, had pursued cases against botnets as a federal prosecutor.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2024
All of these factors combined can help prevent the rise of further botnets.
—Justin Klawans, The Week Us, theweek, 3 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for botnet 
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2024
In response, Wray said the FBI launched an operation last week to dismantle the botnet after securing a US court order.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2024
Chun, the security legal director, had pursued cases against botnets as a federal prosecutor.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2024
All of these factors combined can help prevent the rise of further botnets.
—Justin Klawans, The Week Us, theweek, 3 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for botnet
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'botnet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Botnet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/botnet. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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