A botnet is a network of computers which are infected with malicious software, known as “bots”, that can be controlled remotely by a person known as a “botmaster”. Botnets are potentially capable of carrying out a variety of malicious activities, such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, spam email campaigns, and stealing data.

To prevent a botnet from attacking a network, it is important to ensure that it is protected by taking the following steps:

1. Install effective anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and keep it updated regularly.

2. Educate users on the dangers of downloading files from untrusted sources, and warn them of suspicious emails and links.

3. Segment the network and limit access to only necessary services.

4. Regularly patch and update software, operating systems, and websites.

5. Perform regular network scans and be on the alert for suspicious activity.

6. Implement two-factor authentication, which requires an additional piece of information from the user, such as a code sent in a text message, in addition to a username and password.

7. Monitor logs for suspicious activity and investigate any potential threats.

8. Install a firewall with strong security rules and configure them to block activities like port scanning, which is commonly used by attackers to search for vulnerabilities.