Episode #844
April 5, 2025
An Internet BOT (short for robot) is software that automates activities on the Internet.
The function of bots ranges from beneficial to malicious.
Among the most beneficial are web crawler (spiders). Their job is to browse the Internet and index the content of websites. These indexes are used by search engines like Google to help users find information they seek.
One of the most malicious bots is a credential-stuffing bot. This bot uses stolen user names and passwords to attempt logins at thousands of different institutions. Because people often use the same email address and password for multiple accounts, these bots are effective at gaining access to your personal, corporate, financial and retail accounts.
When bots are functioning at their best they are extraordinarily helpful and/or damaging.
When bots malfunction, they can be disruptive and inaccurate:
- Programming errors can produce incorrect or erroneous results.
- Artificial Intelligence training bots that use flawed databases cause the AI to reply with biased or inaccurate answers.
- The user’s question is often poorly formed leading to the bot’s misinterpretation of the task.
- Data being scraped is often flawed. Garbage in, garbage out.
Bots are tools. Like my woodworking hand tools, the bots can be misused. When I use my hammer with a nail much can go wrong.
- The wood the nail is started in might have a hidden knot or crack.
- The angle of the nail can be askew.
- My grip on the hammer handle may be too low or choked up too high.
- The arc of the hammer swing does not align with the nail.
- My stroke may be too hard or too soft.
It is no wonder that something as complex as a bot has the potential to be less reliable than something as simple as a hammer.
What can we do about these Internet bots and their users?
- Change your passwords often and don’t use the same ones for multiple accounts.
- Never link to an account from an email, no matter how authentic the email looks.
- Always seek a second opinion.
- Check the text that is auto-entered on a website.
- Consult multiple AIs, search engines, and social media comments, then use critical thinking to form your own opinion.
While most of the time bots are useful and safe, they can be malicious.
When they make mistakes they can all be dangerous.
Whenever you are on the Internet follow my best advice:
“Never trust a computer.”
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“Check the text that is auto-entered on a website” definition? How to check.?
Clueless more and more, me
Sometimes when you are making a text entry onto a form or in a comment box your computer might autofill what it thinks you mean. Same with dictation. The computer may enter something you did not intend. Check your typing before you press ENTER.