This report examines the digital marketplaces and methods through which botnets—networks of compromised computers controlled by a central "botmaster"—are illegally traded.
The cost of a botnet varies significantly based on several "quality" metrics: where to buy a botnet
: Purchasing the underlying code of a botnet allows a buyer to build and manage their own infrastructure from scratch. Pricing Factors This report examines the digital marketplaces and methods
: Users pay a subscription fee to use a botnet’s power for short-term Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against specific targets. It is important to note that under various
It is important to note that under various international laws, such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the U.S. Engaging in these marketplaces also poses a severe security risk to the buyer, as these platforms are frequently monitored by law enforcement and "sellers" often distribute backdoored software to infect the buyers themselves.