Bots, short for robots and also known as internet bots, are computer programs that operate as agents or simulate human activity. Bots are used for automating tasks and can run without specific instructions from humans. They play a significant role in automation and digital interactions.
Bots operate over a network and communicate through various internet-based services such as instant messaging, Twitterbots, or Internet Relay Chat. According to a 2021 research report, more than two-thirds of internet traffic is generated by bots, with 67% of bad bot traffic originating from public data centres in North America.
There are different types of bots designed to accomplish various tasks. Some examples include chatbots, social bots, shopbots, knowbots, spiders or crawlers, web scraping crawlers, monitoring bots, and transactional bots.
Bots have diverse applications in customer service, business, scheduling, search functionality, and entertainment. They provide benefits such as increased availability, improved user experience, and the ability to reach a large number of people through messenger apps.
However, it is essential to be aware of malicious bots used for cybercrimes, which can cause disruptions, spread spam, distribute malware, and gather sensitive information. It is crucial to understand the advantages and disadvantages of using bots to make informed decisions.
Next, let’s dive deeper into the various types of bots and their specific functions.
Types of Bots
There are different types of bots, each with its own goals and tasks. Let’s explore some common types:
Chatbots
These bots simulate conversations with humans and can be rule-based, intellectually independent, or a combination of both. They may also use pattern matching, natural language processing, and natural language generation tools.
Social bots
Also known as opinion bots, these bots influence discussions on social media platforms.
Shopbots
These bots shop around the web to find the best prices for products and can also automate marketing and customer support for online stores.
Knowbots
These bots collect knowledge by visiting websites and retrieving information that meets certain criteria.
Spiders or crawlers
Also known as web crawlers, these bots access websites and gather content for search engine indexes.
Web scraping crawlers
Similar to crawlers, these bots are used for data harvesting and extracting relevant content from webpages.
Monitoring bots
These bots are used to monitor the health of websites or systems.
Transactional bots
These bots simplify tasks that would typically be performed by humans over the phone, such as blocking a stolen credit card or confirming business hours.
Bots can also be classified as good bots or bad bots, depending on whether or not they cause harm. Good bots serve useful purposes, while bad bots pose threats and are used for malicious activities.
Examples and Uses of Bots
Bots are versatile and find application across a variety of fields, including customer service, business operations, scheduling, search functionality, and entertainment.
In the realm of customer service, bots play a crucial role by providing round-the-clock availability, increasing the availability of human agents, and handling common support cases. They can swiftly handle customer inquiries, answer frequently asked questions, schedule appointments, and process orders efficiently. This not only enhances the customer experience but also improves overall service efficiency.
Bots are widely utilized in various applications, such as instant messaging (IM) apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Slack. They are also integrated into news apps like The Wall Street Journal, music platforms like Spotify, ride-hailing services like Lyft, and meeting scheduling services. Additionally, bots are employed in customer service applications where chatbots are used to interact with customers, address their queries, and collect feedback on their experiences.
However, it is worth noting that while bots can be deployed for legitimate purposes like automating tasks, improving efficiency, and heightening user experience, they can also be utilized maliciously. Malicious bots engage in activities such as spreading spam, manipulating social media activity, perpetrating ad fraud, and carrying out cybercrimes. Therefore, it is vital for businesses to exercise caution when employing bots and adhere to ethical practices, ensuring they are not leveraged for harmful activities.
FAQ
What is a bot?
A bot, short for robot and also known as an internet bot, is a computer program that operates as an agent for a user or program, or to simulate human activity.
What are the types of bots?
There are various types of bots designed to accomplish different tasks, such as chatbots, social bots, shopbots, knowbots, spiders or crawlers, web scraping crawlers, monitoring bots, and transactional bots.
What are some examples and uses of bots?
Bots are used in customer service, business, scheduling, search functionality, and entertainment. They provide benefits such as increased availability, improved user experience, and the ability to reach a large number of people through messenger apps.
How do bots operate?
Bots operate over a network and communicate through internet-based services such as instant messaging, Twitterbots, or Internet Relay Chat.
What are some signs of a system infected by malicious bots?
Signs of a system infected by malicious bots include frequent software glitches and crashes, unauthorized emails or chat messages being sent, slow application loading times and internet connections, pop-up spam, unexplained changes in settings, slow shutdown or reboot times, unknown programs running in the background, and warnings about virus infection.
How can I prevent malicious bots?
Preventive measures against malicious bots include installing antimalware software, using a bot manager, using a firewall, updating software, practicing good password hygiene, and clicking on trusted links only.