Bot / Malicious Bot

Primary definition

Comes from the Slavic word "robota" meaning work. Refers to a program that automatically carries out certain actions upon receiving the command. So-called malicious bots can control compromised systems remotely and have them carry out arbitrary actions.

Also known asautomated bot · internet bot · web bot · zombie · spam bot · attack bot · botnet · malbot
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 10, 2026
Information Assurance Situation in Switzerland and InternationallyView source

Understand more election terms clearly

Get one important election term explained each week, with authoritative sources, practical context and related definitions.

Free. One useful email each week. Unsubscribe anytime.Learn more about the ESG newsletter →
IASSI

Comes from the Slavic word "robota" meaning work. Refers to a program that automatically carries out certain actions upon receiving the command. So-called malicious bots can control compromised systems remotely and have them carry out arbitrary actions.

Information Assurance Situation in Switzerland and Internationally · 2024

Cite this term

Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Bot / Malicious Bot. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 20, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/bot-malicious-bot

Sources

1 cited · last checked Aug 10, 2026

01

Information Assurance Situation in Switzerland and Internationally
Information Assurance Situation in Switzerland and Internationally

Single-source

View source

Get the weekly election term

Receive one cited, source-backed election explanation in your inbox each week.

Get election terms explained weekly →
Free · Nonpartisan · Unsubscribe anytime.
Continue Research

Keep going from here

Three ways to go deeper on election administration and adjacent terminology.