Member Avatar for johnroach1985

Hi I was wondering how I can find out if I am in a botnet or not... As protection I am using spybot, nod32, windowsXP firewall ( i know i know it doesn't really work but i still use it. ) I scan with free version of norton once a week nod32 deep scan once a month. And I do a weekly check up with Spybot any chance that I may get infected and none of these programs will be able to catch it? Thanks in advance.

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Short expert summary and practical checks (builds on 's setup and 's spam-monitor idea). Regular AV scans can catch many infections, but stealthy botnet clients often hide their network activity or persist in autorun locations; this risk is much higher on out-of-support systems — Windows XP reached end-of-support on April 8, 2014. (learn.microsoft.com) Botnets aren't just spam engines: they can run command‑and‑control channels, fast‑flux DNS, DDoS or mining tasks that evade signature scanners. (cisa.gov)

Host- and network-level checks that add real value beyond weekly AV scans:

  • Look for lots of outbound ESTABLISHED connections or unusual remote ports when the system is idle.
  • Map PIDs to connections and inspect unfamiliar executables and autorun entries.
  • Use lightweight commands and GUI helpers to collect evidence quickly:
netstat -ano | findstr ESTABLISHED
netstat -n -o > C:\netstat.txt
tasklist /fi "PID eq <pid>"

Netstat provides the socket/PID mapping; cross-reference PIDs with Task Manager or tasklist. (learn.microsoft.com) For an easier real‑time view, the Sysinternals TCPView GUI and Autoruns (for startup persistence) are highly recommended. Use Autoruns to spotlight non‑Microsoft autostarts. (learn.microsoft.com)

If a compromise is suspected, follow containment → eradication → recovery steps: isolate the host from the network, run an offline/bootable scan, preserve logs, and plan reimaging from a known‑clean image when detection/persistence is confirmed. Microsoft Defender Offline is a suitable offline scanner; NIST incident‑response guidance recommends isolation and full remediation for confirmed compromises. (learn.microsoft.com)

Notes: Project Honey Pot (as mentioned) helps detect outbound spam abuse but won't reveal non‑spam C2 beacons. On older OSes (XP) the safest option is upgrade or full reimage — signature updates and OS patches are the strongest long‑term defense.

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Member Avatar for johnroach1985

Yeah but this is mostly about spamming...is spamming same with being a part of a botnet?

Member Avatar for hughv

That's what botnets are for: to send SPAM using someone else's address.
In my case, I 've set it to monitor my own IP address and LAN.

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