Spambot

A spambot (also known as a spam bot or web robot) is an automated computer program designed to distribute spam, typically across the internet. These bots are often used to collect email addresses from websites, post unsolicited messages or advertisements to forums, blogs, wikis, and social media platforms, and spread malicious links.

Spambots operate by mimicking human users to bypass security measures and prevent detection. They may fill out forms, solve CAPTCHAs (although increasingly, these are bypassed using specialized services or AI), and navigate websites to appear legitimate. The goal of a spambot is to disseminate spam as widely as possible with minimal effort from the spammer controlling the bot.

Common activities performed by spambots include:

• Email Harvesting: Scanning websites and extracting email addresses for inclusion in spam mailing lists.
• Forum Spam: Posting irrelevant or promotional messages to online forums and message boards.
• Comment Spam: Leaving automated comments on blog posts and articles, often containing links to spam websites.
• Social Media Spam: Posting spam content, sending unsolicited messages, and creating fake profiles on social media platforms.
• Wiki Vandalism: Adding spam links or malicious content to wiki pages.

Spambots contribute significantly to the volume of unsolicited communications online and can pose a security risk by spreading malware and phishing scams. Various techniques are employed to combat spambots, including CAPTCHAs, honeypots, and behavioral analysis.