Bot

1. Comes from the Slavic word “robota” meaning work. Refers to a program that automatically carries out certain actions upon receiving the command. So-called malicious bots can control compromised systems remotely and have them carry out arbitrary actions.

Source: Information Assurance Situation in Switzerland and Internationally, Reporting and Analysis Centre for Information Assurance MELANI, https://www.newsd.admin.ch/newsd/message/attachments/11945.pdf

2. A computer connected to the Internet that has been surreptitiously/secretly compromised with malicious logic to perform activities under remote the command and control of a remote administrator.

Source: Explore Terms: A Glossary of Common Cybersecurity Terminology, National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS), https://niccs.us-cert.gov/about-niccs/glossary; National Security Archive Cyber Glossary George Washington University https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/news/cyber-vault/2018-09-19/cyber-glossary

3. A member of a larger collection of compromised computers known as a botnet.

Source: Explore Terms: A Glossary of Common Cybersecurity Terminology, National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS), https://niccs.us-cert.gov/about-niccs/glossary

4. Autonomous programs on the internet designed to behave like real individuals; some run automatically, while others require specific input to execute commands; bots are often used to perform malicious actions.

Source: An Investigation into Foreign Entities Who Are Targeting Servicemembers and Veterans Online, Vietnam Veterans of America, https://vva.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/VVA-Investigation.pdf

5. A computer that has been compromised with malware to perform activities under the remote command and control of an administrator.

Source: U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission, March 2020, https://subscriber.politicopro.com/f/?id=00000170-c638-d8f7-a7f1-f63b33510000