A new report shows that in 2023, nearly half of global Internet traffic is generated by bots, many of which are malicious and threaten the security of web resources and user data.
Bot epidemic
Botnet traffic growth
According to Thales research, automated Bot traffic accounted for an unprecedented 49.6% of global Internet traffic. This is the highest level since monitoring of bot activity began in 2013. At the same time, a significant part of bots pursue malicious purposes and are used for unauthorized access to data, accounts and web resources.
Threat to user accounts
Of particular concern is the increase in attacks on user accounts using bots. In 2023, their share in total traffic reached 32%, which is 1.8% higher than in 2022. Attackers use bots to hack accounts and steal confidential information.
Artificial intelligence in the service of bots
The report also warns of an increase in bot activity on the base artificial intelligence. Widespread adoption of generative AI and large language models contributed to an increase in the share of simple bots to 39.6% in 2023 from 33.4% a year earlier. However, 17% of them are malicious and are used to search for vulnerabilities in security systems.
Glossary
- Thales is a French multinational company and a global leader in digital security.
- Imperva is a cybersecurity company specializing in protecting web applications and data.
- AI (artificial intelligence) is a field of computer science dedicated to the creation of intelligent machines and programs.
Links
Answers to questions
What is the main reason for the increase in Internet traffic generated by bots ?
Which countries have the highest percentage of malicious bot traffic?
Which industries are most susceptible to malicious bot attacks?
What are the implications of the rise in AI-related bot activity?
What trends can we expect in the future regarding bot-generated traffic?
Hashtags
Save a link to this article
Discussion of the topic – Bots are taking over the Internet: half of traffic in 2023
In 2023, nearly half of all global internet traffic was generated by bots, according to the Imperva Bad Bot Report from Thales. This is an unprecedented level of bot activity since monitoring began in 2013. Some bots perform useful functions, such as indexing web pages.
Latest comments
15 comments
Write a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are checked *
Иван
I heard that the Russian government is planning to tighten laws regarding the use of bots for cybersecurity purposes 💻🔐
Наталья
Yes it's true. This trend is observed all over the world. The issue of cybersecurity is becoming increasingly relevant with the development of new technologies 👩💻
Юрий
On the one hand, bots can be useful tools, but on the other, their use for criminal purposes is on the rise, threatening data security and privacy 🚫🤖
Михаил
I agree, bots are often used by attackers to steal accounts, send mass spam, and other types of cybercrimes. It is important to find a balance between innovation and safety 🕵️♂️
Анна
In any case, it is necessary to strengthen control and monitoring of bot traffic. Companies need to protect their web resources and APIs from malicious bots 🔒💻
Владимир
Interesting statistic, but a worrying one. It might be worth supporting tougher enforcement against malicious bots 😬
Григорий
I’m a good old skeptic, but these trends are really scary 🙀 Maybe we should return everything to the old ways and not chase new technologies to the detriment of safety?
Елена
I don’t agree, Gregory. New technologies give us many advantages, we just need to learn how to use them correctly and protect them from abuse 💪
Александр
Personally, I think there needs to be tougher penalties for those who create and use malicious bots. Perhaps this will help curb their spread 🛡️
Ольга
In addition to legal measures, I think it is important to raise people's awareness of cyber threats. The more people know, the less chance attackers have 🧠
Антон
Don't forget that bots can be very useful tools if used as intended. The question is regulating their use 🤖👍
Мария
I think the problem is that technology is developing too quickly and legislation cannot keep up. We need to look for ways to respond as quickly as possible 🚀
Дмитрий
This issue requires a balanced approach. You can't ban all bots, but you also can't ignore the risks associated with using them for illegal purposes 💂♂️
Виктория
I agree, we need to find a middle ground. After all, we live in a digital age that brings both opportunities and threats. The main thing is to be vigilant 🔎👀
Сергей
Let's not forget that behind every bot there is a person who created it. It is important not only to regulate, but also to increase the ethical awareness of developers ⚖️