More than half of all internet traffic is now automated. In 2025, bad bots alone accounted for 37%  of global internet use, while human users made up a minority. Overall, automated traffic exceeded human traffic for the first time in a decade, climbing past 51 percent. 

Here are the most damaging types of bots today:

1. Credential-Stuffing Bots

These bots try millions of stolen username and password combinations to break into accounts. They are among the most common bot attacks and cost businesses billions in fraud recovery and fines. 

2. Scraping Bots

These bots copy content, pricing, or product data from websites without permission. They drain bandwidth and ad revenue. AI-enhanced scraping bots are increasing in volume and sophistication. 

3. DDoS Botnets — Notably Rapper Bot

One of the most powerful today was Rapper Bot, also called the Eleven Eleven Botnet or CowBot. It infected tens of thousands of devices such as DVRs and routers to conduct over 370,000 distributed-denial-of-service attacks against 18,000 unique victims across 80 countries. Some attacks exceeded 6 terabits per second. Its attacks targeted government networks, platforms like X, and even the U.S. Department of Defense. 

Rapper Bot was a highly destructive, large-scale DDoS-for-hire operation that ran from 2021 through mid-2025. Law enforcement’s takedown in early August 2025 appears to have ended its activity—for now. The alleged operator, Ethan Foltz, age 22, from Eugene, Oregon, has been charged with aiding and abetting computer intrusions and faces up to 10 years in prison.

4. Spam Botnets

Historic networks such as Srizbi once generated over 60 percent of all global spam. Modern, less effective versions still exist in some form today and continue to power phishing and malware campaigns that prey on users through deceptive emails. 

5. Ad-Fraud Bots

These bots generate false ad impressions and clicks, causing advertisers to pay for traffic that does not bring any real value. Advertisers are losing tens of billions annually to ad fraud. Wikipedia

The Good News

Websites and platforms are not defenseless. Advanced bot detection, AI-powered defenses, CAPTCHAs, and decoy-page traps are making it harder for bad bots to get through. These tools help preserve bandwidth, protect user data, and ensure that real users still have the first shot at your content and services.