What is a Botnet, Anyway?
Imagine a botnet is like a secret club of infected computers. your PC could be one that a hacker controls, usually without you even noticing.
It’s sneaky, and most people don’t know they are part of it.
Signs Your PC Might Be in Trouble
If your computer is acting weird, like suddenly slow, with fans spinning like crazy, or the internet is crawling even when you are just staring at the desktop, it could be a sign. My cousin’s old laptop used to act up the same way.
Check Task Manager for Suspicious Stuff
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Take a look at the programs running. See anything with a name you don’t recognize, like weirdprocess.exe? Or something eating lots of memory? That is a red flag.
Run an Antivirus Scan
Botnets do not like antivirus. Give your PC a scan with any solid antivirus software; most of them are super easy to use now. If it finds something, just follow the instructions.
Ask for Help if You are Unsure
And do not be shy about asking someone techy for help. Sometimes just having another set of eyes helps you spot something odd. Stay on the lookout; curiosity is your best defense!