: Purchasing the underlying code of a botnet allows a buyer to build and manage their own infrastructure from scratch. Pricing Factors
The cost of a botnet varies significantly based on several "quality" metrics: where to buy a botnet
: Bots located in "Tier 1" countries (US, UK, Canada) are significantly more expensive than those in regions with lower digital security standards. : Purchasing the underlying code of a botnet
It is important to note that under various international laws, such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the U.S. Engaging in these marketplaces also poses a severe security risk to the buyer, as these platforms are frequently monitored by law enforcement and "sellers" often distribute backdoored software to infect the buyers themselves. Engaging in these marketplaces also poses a severe
: Users pay a subscription fee to use a botnet’s power for short-term Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against specific targets.
: High-bandwidth servers or IoT devices (like smart cameras and routers) are often more valuable for DDoS attacks than standard home PCs.
This report examines the digital marketplaces and methods through which botnets—networks of compromised computers controlled by a central "botmaster"—are illegally traded.