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Tearing up Smart Contract Botnets

Tearing up Smart Contract Botnets (PDF, 2.04MB)Published: 22 Oct, 2018
Created by:
Jonathan Sweeny
The distributed resiliency of smart contracts on private blockchains is enticing to bot herders as a method of maintaining a capable communications channel with the members of a botnet. This research explores the weaknesses that are inherent to this approach of botnet management. These weaknesses, when targeted properly by law enforcement or malware researchers, could limit the capabilities and effectiveness of the botnet. Depending on the weakness targeted, the results vary from partial takedown to total dismantlement of the botnet.