Annoybot

Why Trust Techopedia

What Does Annoybot Mean?

An annoybot is a piece of software designed to perform a repetitive and automated computing task. This task can also be performed on command within an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channel. An annoybot typically joins a certain channel, reproduces itself and then inundates the channel with annoying text. These messages are non-essential for users and are by their very nature irritating and annoying to online participants. The term "bot" is derived from robot.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains Annoybot

KissServ is an example of an annoybot; its function is only to send cute messages to others. IRC users do not initiate annoybots such as KissServ, nor do these bots hold any particular meaning for users. Annoybots typically serve one purpose: to cause annoyance by their repetitive nature. Annoybots can also initiate reactive-type behavior from users who attempt to eliminate them. However, if annoybots are eliminated from a channel they may actually replenish themselves in greater numbers.

Bots, by their very nature, are designed to perform automated tasks that aim to replace human initiation. Nonetheless, bots are created by humans who can design them to perform any task they want. Annoybots typically don't cause real computer or network damage, but they do cause recipients to become very frustrated. Annoybots most commonly evolve in IRC discussion settings.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Margaret Rouse
Technology Specialist
Margaret Rouse
Technology Specialist

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.