A group of users on the same network are all complaining about their computers running slowly. After investigating, the technician determines that these computers are part of a zombie network. Which type of malware is used to control these computers?

The correct answer is:

botnet

Now, let’s explain each of the options:

Botnet: This is a network of computers that have been infected with malicious software and are controlled as a group without the owners’ knowledge. They are commonly used for various nefarious activities, including sending spam, stealing data, or launching Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. In this scenario, the computers being part of a ‘zombie network’ indicates that they are being remotely controlled as part of a botnet.

Rootkit: A rootkit is a type of malware that provides unauthorized, root-level access to a computer or network. While it can be used to control computers covertly, its primary purpose is to hide the existence of certain processes or programs from normal methods of detection and enable continued privileged access to a computer.

Spyware: Spyware is a type of malware that is designed to collect and transmit personal information, such as internet usage habits, keystrokes, or sensitive data like credit card information. While it can slow down a computer, it does not typically control it in a networked manner like a botnet.

Virus: A virus is a type of malware that replicates by inserting copies of itself into other computer programs, data files, or the boot sector of the hard drive. While viruses can cause harm to computer systems and may slow them down, they do not usually control multiple computers as part of a network like a botnet.