I'm looking to create a multiplayer top down shooter. While i've read about different topics, i can see them i've got some real challenges ahead, but i'm all up for it.

One thing i can't understand is how am i supposed to be protecting the game from people who try to create bots?

What i mean is, as far as i understand, it's impossible to protect the network traffic in a way that players won't be able to create programs that listen to what's going on and understand it.

So what worries me is that people can create bots that listen to the current location of rival players, and send communication that mimic as if the player is shooting in the exact "perfect" location to win that match.

So what kind of techniques are used to protect real time games from such bots?

Also i'd like to mention that i've tried searching for discussions (as this sounds like something many people struggle with), but couldn't find anything about it specifically, only as a part of broader questions about networking in real time games. If i should have looked harder feel free to put me in my place :)

Thanks alot!