Bot herders^[1] are hackers who use automated techniques to scan specific network ranges and find vulnerable systems, such as machines without current security patches, on which to install their bot program.^[2] The infected machine then becomes one of many zombies^[3] in a botnet and responds to commands given by the bot herder, usually via an Internet Relay Chat channel.

One of the new bot herders includes the controller of Conficker.

A bot herder usually uses a pseudonym to keep themselves anonymous and may use proxy servers, shell accounts, and bouncers to conceal their IP address thus maintaining anonymity.

• Internet bot
• Botnet