The growing threat of bots: how they’re taking over the internet

Nearly half of all internet traffic is generated by bots, many of which pose significant threats to consumers and businesses. Bots are used for phishing attacks, identity theft, and spreading malware. They can also damage brand reputations by associating companies with fraudulent activities, especially on social media.

According to the Imperva 2024 Bad Bot Report, bad bot traffic has increased for the fifth consecutive year, driven by AI and large language models. In 2023, bad bots accounted for 32% of all internet traffic, while human traffic decreased to 50.4%.

Malicious bots can cause significant harm by bypassing security measures, automating attacks, and scaling operations. They are used in activities like ticket scalping and credential stuffing. AI is enhancing their ability to mimic human behavior, making them harder to detect.

Bots also pose risks to businesses, targeting login portals, APIs, and public systems to exploit vulnerabilities. To mitigate these threats, companies should implement multi-factor authentication, bot detection tools, and monitor traffic for anomalies.

The rise of AI-generated content and malicious bots could lead to more spam, fraud, and online impersonation, increasing security risks and privacy concerns. Detecting malicious bots remains a challenge, but educating users and employing behavioral analysis can help reduce these threats.