Design and implementation of a novel hybrid botnet

In a world full of interconnected devices and ever-changing technologies, there is no wonder that threats prevail in cyberspace. Botnets represent one of the major Internet threats, as they are networks of infected devices that can be remotely controlled by attackers. To raise the level of preparedness against such threats by anticipating possible advanced botnets that may arise in cyberspace, this paper introduces a novel botnet architecture, based on a centralized structure in which the single point of failure problem is eliminated using a customized command and control protocol. The proposed architecture is considered hybrid, as it combines features of the centralized topology with features of the decentralized one. An implementation of the proposed botnet is also included, showing the efficiency of the botnet in commands dissemination and its recovery capacity.