Are all bots political bots?
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 5:32 am
Another way to identify large botnets is to look at the processing patterns of suspicious accounts. Bot creators often use the same processing pattern to name their bots. For example, in January 2018, DFRLab encountered a likely botnet in which each bot had an eight-digit number at the end of its pseudonym.
( Source . Twitter / @jreichelt / Archived link )
Another trick is consistent alphanumeric handles . Bots thailand mobile database in a botnet discovered by DFRLab before the Malaysian elections all used 15-symbol alphanumeric handles.
4. Date and time of creation
Bots that belong to the same botnet tend to share a similar creation date . If you come across dozens of accounts created on the same day or during the same week, it means that these accounts may be part of the same botnet .
Raw data showing the date of creation of Twitter accounts that amplified PRI party's candidates in the state of Puebla (Source. Sysomos)
5. Identical Twitter activity
If multiple accounts perform the exact same task or engage in the same way on Twitter, they are likely part of the same botnet.
( Source . Twitter / @jreichelt / Archived link )
Another trick is consistent alphanumeric handles . Bots thailand mobile database in a botnet discovered by DFRLab before the Malaysian elections all used 15-symbol alphanumeric handles.
4. Date and time of creation
Bots that belong to the same botnet tend to share a similar creation date . If you come across dozens of accounts created on the same day or during the same week, it means that these accounts may be part of the same botnet .
Raw data showing the date of creation of Twitter accounts that amplified PRI party's candidates in the state of Puebla (Source. Sysomos)
5. Identical Twitter activity
If multiple accounts perform the exact same task or engage in the same way on Twitter, they are likely part of the same botnet.