Mirai is a malware family that infects vulnerable internet-connected devices, such as routers and cameras, and links them into a botnet-a group of compromised devices controlled together. Its operators have used these devices for coordinated abuse, especially distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that overwhelm a target with traffic.
Mirai matters because poorly secured or unpatched devices can be hijacked at scale, affecting both their owners and the networks or services targeted by the botnet. In attack investigations, researchers may associate activity or infrastructure with Mirai, but that attribution alone does not prove who operated it or that an attempted exploit succeeded. Defenders should change default credentials, install device updates, limit unnecessary internet exposure, and monitor for unusual outbound traffic or device behavior.