Zbot, also known as ZyngaBot, is a software application designed to automate the playing of games on the social networking website Zynga. It is one of the first and most successful examples of social gaming bots. Zbot was created by developer Nicholas Maiorano in 2009. Maiorano began work on the bot after becoming frustrated with the time-consuming process of leveling up his characters in Zynga's games. The bot was designed to automate the playing of Zynga's games, including FarmVille, Mafia Wars, and YoVille. It would automatically complete tasks such as planting crops, harvesting crops, and attacking other players. The bot was officially released in 2010. It quickly became popular, with over 100,000 downloads within the first month. Zynga took notice of the bot and filed a lawsuit against Maiorano in 2011. The lawsuit was settled out of court, with Maiorano agreeing to stop distributing the bot and to pay Zynga $250,000 in damages. Despite the legal setback, Zbot remains one of the most popular social gaming bots. It is estimated that there are still over 100,000 active users of the bot.
Zbot is a malware that specifically targets Zynga games. It is designed to steal login information and game-related items such as coins, game points, and virtual goods. It can also be used to spam friends and disrupt game play.
The Zynga game network has been hit by the zbot virus, which has caused many of the company's services to be disrupted. The virus has caused problems for Zynga's players, who have been unable to access their games or make in-game purchases. Zynga is working to resolve the issue, but it is not clear how long it will take to fix the problem. In the meantime, players are advised to avoid clicking on any links that they may receive from unknown sources.