In cybersecurity, a bot is a type of software application or script that performs automated tasks on command. Bots can be used for both good and bad purposes. Good bots carry out useful tasks, such as automating customer service, simulating human communication on social networks, helping companies search online for content, and assisting with search engine optimization. On the other hand, bad bots, also known as malware bots, carry risk and can be used for hacking, spamming, spying, interrupting, and compromising websites of all sizes. Malware bots and internet bots are essentially digital tools and, like any tool, can be used for both good and bad.

A botnet, short for "robot network," refers to an assembly of computers that malware has compromised. These infected machines, individually known as "bots," are remotely controlled by an attacker, often referred to as the "bot-herder". Botnets have been one of the most common methods of malware deployment for the past decade, infecting hundreds of millions of computers. Bad bots are typically controlled by cyber attackers who wish to do harm or steal intellectual property. They might be used to break into user accounts, deliver spam, or conduct other malicious activities.

To prevent malicious bots, organizations can use a bot manager. It is important for every computer and smartphone user to have up-to-date internet security software on all their devices and to always change factory default usernames and passwords.