Certified Fraud Examiner Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The primary activity associated with botnets in relation to phishing is spamming massive amounts of emails. Botnets are networks of compromised computers that are controlled by an attacker. These networks are often utilized to send out large volumes of phishing emails to unsuspecting users. The goal of these emails is typically to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial details, by posing as trustworthy entities.

In the context of phishing, spamming is crucial because the effectiveness of phishing relies heavily on reaching a wide audience. A greater number of emails sent increases the likelihood of success for the attacker, as even a small percentage of users may fall for the scam.

While spreading malware to steal identities is a significant concern in the realm of cybersecurity, it is often a consequence of phishing and not the direct activity of the botnet itself. Hacking into secure networks and conducting denial-of-service attacks also represent serious threats, but they are not specifically tied to the phishing activities that botnets facilitate through email spam. Thus, the fundamental role of botnets in phishing is best captured by their extensive capacity to distribute spam emails, which can lead to identity theft and data breaches.