Remote Access Trojans (RATs) use the victim’s access permissions and infect computers to give cyberattackers unlimited access to the data on the PC. Cybercriminals can use RATs to exfiltrate confidential information. RATs include backdoors into the computer system and can enlist the PC into a botnet, while also spreading to other devices.
Full Answer
What are remote access trojans (RATs)?
According to our cybersecurity glossary, Remote Access Trojans (RATs) use the victim’s access permissions and infect computers to give cyberattackers unlimited access to the data on the PC. Cybercriminals can use RATs to exfiltrate confidential information.
What can a Trojan do to your computer?
This Trojan can create a “backdoor” on your computer. It lets an attacker access your computer and control it. Your data can be downloaded by a third party and stolen. Or more malware can be uploaded to your device. This Trojan performs DDoS attacks. The idea is to take down a network by flooding it with traffic.
What are trojans and how do they affect you?
Trojans aren’t problems for only laptop and desktop computers. They can also impact your mobile devices, including cell phones and tablets. In general, a Trojan comes attached to what looks like a legitimate program. In reality, it is a fake version of the app, loaded up with malware.
What are some examples of Trojan malware attacks?
Examples of Trojan malware attacks 1 Rakhni Trojan.This malware has been around since 2013. More recently, it can deliver ransomware or a cryptojacker... 2 ZeuS/Zbot .This banking Trojan is another oldie but baddie. ZeuS/Zbot source code was first released in 2011. It uses... More ...
How does remote access Trojan works?
Remote access trojans (RATs) are malware designed to allow an attacker to remotely control an infected computer. Once the RAT is running on a compromised system, the attacker can send commands to it and receive data back in response.
Are remote access Trojans illegal?
Law enforcement officials say that simply possessing a remote-access tool isn't illegal. In fact, remote-access tools are often used for IT support purposes in corporate environments.
Can you get a virus from remote access?
Many remote access software solutions don't scan the remote computer for viruses or malware. If your home or work PC has been infected, and you're using it to access your office network remotely, then a hacker could easily install malware onto your business's servers and spread to every machine in your office.
What are the variant of remote access Trojan?
There are a large number of Remote Access Trojans. Some are more well-known than others. SubSeven, Back Orifice, ProRat, Turkojan, and Poison-Ivy are established programs. Others, such as CyberGate, DarkComet, Optix, Shark, and VorteX Rat have a smaller distribution and utilization.
Can Windows Defender detect Trojans?
Although, Windows Defender is not capable of handling all kinds of viruses, malware, trojan, and other security threats. You can trust it for basic Firewall protection, but not beyond based on the antimalware capabilities it offers.
Is ratting a computer illegal?
The law also punishes unauthorized access to a computer or computer network, with penalties ranging from a class B misdemeanor to a class D felony (punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both).
Can you get hacked just by visiting a website?
Yes, you can get a virus just from visiting a website. These days, it's very easy to be overconfident in our abilities to avoid computer viruses.
What happens if you give someone remote access to your computer?
This can be even worse than just conning you out of money, as undetected malware can allow hackers to steal your identity, including your passwords and financial information, over and over again, even if you get new passwords and account numbers.
Can VPN stop remote access?
While having some similarities, VPN and remote desktop are functionally different things. A VPN will give you access to a network while remote desktop (or RDP) will give you control of an entire computer. If you want to have full control over a local computer from a remote location, VPN won't let you achieve that.
Which is the best remote access Trojan?
Blackshades is a Trojan which is widely used by hackers to gain access to any system remotely. This tool frequently attacks the Windows-based operating system for access.
What are the common backdoor?
7 most common application backdoorsShadowPad. ... Back Orifice. ... Android APK backdoor. ... Borland/Inprise InterBase backdoor. ... Malicious chrome and Edge extension backdoor. ... Backdoors in outdated WordPress plugins. ... Bootstrap-Sass Ruby library backdoor.
What is a backdoor Trojan?
Backdoor malware is generally classified as a Trojan. A Trojan is a malicious computer program pretending to be something it's not for the purposes of delivering malware, stealing data, or opening up a backdoor on your system.
Is it illegal to sell malware?
If you sell software without disclosing to the customer that the software contains malware or a crypter then you are exposing yourself to a lawsuit for products liability, invasion of privacy, fraud and misrepresentation, the cost of damages, and possibly criminal liability.
Can an Iphone get a remote access Trojan?
The iOS Trojan is smart and spies discretely, i.e. does not drain a battery. The RCS mobile Trojans are capable of performing all kinds of spying you can expect from such a tool, including location reporting, taking photos, spying on SMS, WhatsApp and other messengers, stealing contacts and so on.
What is a backdoor Trojan?
Backdoor malware is generally classified as a Trojan. A Trojan is a malicious computer program pretending to be something it's not for the purposes of delivering malware, stealing data, or opening up a backdoor on your system.
How do I know if someone is accessing my computer remotely?
You can try any of these for confirmation.Way 1: Disconnect Your Computer From the Internet.Way 2. ... Way 3: Check Your Browser History on The Computer.Way 4: Check Recently Modified Files.Way 5: Check Your computer's Login Events.Way 6: Use the Task Manager to Detect Remote Access.Way 7: Check Your Firewall Settings.More items...•
What is RAT software?
RAT can also stand for remote administration tool, which is software giving a user full control of a tech device remotely. With it, the user can ac...
What’s the difference between the RAT computer virus and RAT software?
As for functions, there is no difference between the two. Yet, while remote administration tool is for legit usage, RAT connotes malicious and crim...
What are the popular remote access applications?
The common remote desktop tools include but are not limited to TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Chrome Remote Desktop, ConnectWise Control, Splashtop Business...
How do remote access Trojans work?
The Remote Access Trojans get themselves downloaded on a device if the victims click on any attachment in an email or from a game. It enables the attacker to get control over the device and monitor the activities or gaining remote access. This RAT makes itself undetected on the device, and they remain in the device for a longer period of time for getting data that may be confidential.
What is the advantage of remote access?
Advantage of Remote Access Trojans : It can be used to capture screenshots. The attacker can activate the webcam, or they can record video. The RAT can be used to delete the files or alter files in the system. It can also be used to capture screenshots.
What is the most powerful Trojan?
One of the most powerful Trojans that are popularly used by the attacker or hacker is Remote Access Trojan. This is mostly used for malicious purposes. This Trojan ensures the stealthy way of accumulating data by making itself undetected. Now, these Trojans have the capacity to perform various functions that damages the victim.
What is a keylogger used for?
It can be used to monitor the user by using some spyware or other key-logger.
Can an attacker record video?
The attacker can activate the webcam, or they can record video.
How to protect yourself from remote access trojans?
Just like protecting yourself from other network malware threats, for remote access trojan protection, in general, you need to avoid downloading unknown items; keep antimalware and firewall up to date, change your usernames and passwords regularly; (for administrative perspective) block unused ports, turn off unused services, and monitor outgoing traffic.
What is a RAT trojan?
RAT trojan is typically installed on a computer without its owner’s knowledge and often as a trojan horse or payload. For example, it is usually downloaded invisibly with an email attachment, torrent files, weblinks, or a user-desired program like a game. While targeted attacks by a motivated attacker may deceive desired targets into installing RAT ...
What Does a RAT Virus Do?
Since a remote access trojan enables administrative control , it is able to do almost everything on the victim machine.
How does RAT malware work?
Once get into the victim’s machine, RAT malware will hide its harmful operations from either the victim or the antivirus or firewall and use the infected host to spread itself to other vulnerable computers to build a botnet.
Why is Darkcomet no longer available?
The reason is due to its usage in the Syrian civil war to monitor activists as well as its author’s fear of being arrested for unnamed reasons.
Why do RATs use a randomized filename?
It is kind of difficult. RATs are covert by nature and may make use of a randomized filename or file path structure to try to prevent identification of itself. Commonly, a RAT worm virus does not show up in the lists of running programs or tasks and its actions are similar to those of legal programs.
Is Sub 7 a trojan horse?
Typically, Sub 7 allows undetected and unauthorized access. So, it is usually regarded as a trojan horse by the security industry. Sub7 worked on the Windows 9x and Windows NT family of OSes, up to and including Windows 8.1. Sub7 has not been maintained since 2014. 4.
What are the consequences of installing remote access Trojans?
If attackers succeed in installing Remote Access Trojans say in power stations, traffic control systems, or telephone networks, they can gain powerful control over them and even take down communities, cities, and nations. In this regard, we remember the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, when Russia used a coordinated campaign of physical and cyber warfare to seize territory from the neighboring Republic of Georgia.
What percentage of Georgia's internet was affected by the Russian invasion?
Thirty-five percent of Georgia’s Internet networks suffered decreased functionality during the attacks, with the highest levels of online activity coinciding with the Russian invasion of South Ossetia on August 8, 9, and 10. Even the National Bank of Georgia had to suspend all electronic services from August 8–19.
Can a RAT be paired with a keylogger?
For example, if a RAT is paired with a keylogger, it can easily gain login information for financial and personal accounts. To make matters worse, they can stealthily activate a computer’s camera or microphone, and even access private photos and documents, or use your home network as a proxy server, to commit crimes anonymously.
Is antivirus enough to keep a company secure?
Antivirus is no longer enough to keep an organization’s systems secure.
What is remote access trojan?
The Remote Access Trojan is a type of malware that lets a hacker remotely (hence the name) take control of a computer. Let’s analyze the name. The Trojan part is about the way the malware is distributed. It refers to the ancient Greek story of the Trojan horse that Ulysses built to take back the city of Troy which had been besieged for ten years. In the context of computer malware, a Trojan horse (or simply trojan) is a piece of malware which is distributed as something else. For instance, a game that you download and install on your computer could actually be a Trojan horse and it could contain some malware code.
How does Bro Network Security Monitor work?
The Bro Network Security Monitor, another free network intrusion detection system. The tool operates in two phases: traffic logging and traffic analysis. Just like Suricata, Bro Network Security Monitor operates at multiple layers up to the application layer. This allows for better detection of split intrusion attempts. The tool’s analysis module is made up of two elements. The first element is called the event engine and it tracks triggering events such as net TCP connections or HTTP requests. The events are then analyzed by policy scripts, the second element, which decide whether or not to trigger an alarm and/or launch an action. The possibility of launching an action gives the Bro Network Security Monitor some IPS-like functionality.
Why do hackers use RATs?
As such, they can be seen as weapons. Hackers around the world use RATs to spy on companies and steal their data and money. Meanwhile, the RAT problem has now become an issue of national security for many countries, including the USA.
Can a game be a Trojan horse?
For instance, a game that you download and install on your computer could actually be a Trojan horse and it could contain some malware code. As for the remote access part of the RAT’s name, it has to do with what the malware does. Simply put, it allows its author to have remote access to the infected computer.
Can a hacker use a remote computer?
The controlling hacker can also operate the power functions of a remote computer, allowing a computer to be turned on or off remotely. The network functions of an infected computer can also be harnessed to use the computer as a proxy server and mask its user’s identity during raids on other computers.
What is a Remote Access Trojan and How it Works, Exactly?
A remote access Trojan, more popularly known as RAT, is a type of malware that can carry out covert surveillance on a victim’s computer.
What is a remote access Trojan?
There are several remote access systems that may have legitimate applications , but they are known as tools that hackers use primarily as part of a Trojan; these are classified as remote access Trojans.
What is botnet hacking?
Essentially, a botnet allows a hacker to use a computer’s resources for tasks like DDOS attacks, Bitcoin mining, file hosting, and torrenting.
What is darkcomet software?
DarkComet – The software allows spying by keylogging, screen capture, and password collection. The controlling hacker can also operate the power functions of a remote computer, allowing it to be turned on or off remotely.
What is RAT Detection Tool #3?
RAT Detection Tool #3 – Suricata: This is a rate-based system that applies application layer analysis, so it will detect the signatures that are distributed between the packages. It monitors the activity of the IP, TLS, TCP, and UDP protocols and targets key network applications such as FTP, HTTP, ICMP, and SMB.
What is RAT tool 2?
RAT Detection Tool #2 – Bro: This is a free NIDS that can be installed on Unix, Linux, and Mac OS. It is highly analytical because it applies cross-packet analysis and uses signature-based analysis and anomaly-based detection.
What is backdoor access?
Backdoor access provides virtually complete access to the machine, allows you to change settings, control user behavior, use the computer’s Internet connection, and even access other computers on the victim’s network.
When was remote access first used?
The oldest legitimate remote access software was built in the late 1980s, when tools such as NetSupport appeared. Soon after that, in 1996, their first malicious counterparts were created. NokNok and D.I.R.T. were among the first, followed by NetBus, Back Orifice and SubSeven.
Who was the law professor that was targeted by NetBus?
In 1999, someone downloaded NetBus and targeted Magnus Eriksson, a law professor at Lund University in Sweden. The attacker planted 12,000 pornographic images on his computer, 3,500 of which featured child pornography. The system administrators discovered them, and the law professor lost his job.
What tools did RAT authors use in the 2000s?
In the 2000s, RAT authors were not naive kids who wanted to see how far they could go. Most of them were familiar with tools such as NetBus, SubSeven or Back Orifice, and they knew exactly what they were doing.
Who created NetBus?
Yet, they were “innovative and disruptive,” Valeros says. NetBus, for instance, was created by Carl-Fredrik Neikter in 1998, and its name, translated from Swedish, means “NetPrank.”
Is NetBus a legit tool?
The developer claimed he didn’t want NetBus to be used maliciously, saying it was “a legit remote admin tool,” security researcher Seth Kulakow wrote in a paper he published with the SANS Institute. “However, if you didn’t already figure it out, it is still a very nice tool to use for the other purpose,” Kulakow wrote.
What is a Trojan?
A Trojan is designed to damage, disrupt, steal, or in general inflict some other harmful action on your data or network. A Trojan acts like a bona fide application or file to trick you. It seeks to deceive you into loading and executing the malware on your device. Once installed, a Trojan can perform the action it was designed for.
Why did the Trojans open their walls?
The Trojans, thinking the horse was a gift, opened their walled city to accept it, allowing the Greeks to come out of hiding at night to attack the sleeping Trojans. In the same way, if you’re the victim of Trojan malware, you could find yourself on the losing side.
What happens when you open an email from a cybercriminal?
The email is from a cybercriminal, and the file you clicked on — and downloaded and opened — has gone on to install malware on your device. When you execute the program, the malware can spread to other files and damage your computer.
What is a Trojan horse?
Cancel anytime. A Trojan horse, or Trojan, is a type of malicious code or software that looks legitimate but can take control of your computer. A Trojan is designed to damage, disrupt, steal, or in general inflict some other harmful action on your data or network. A Trojan acts like a bona fide application or file to trick you.
What is rootkit in computer?
A rootkit aims to hide or obscure an object on your infected computer. The idea? To extend the time a malicious program runs on your device.
Can a Trojan be a virus?
A Trojan cannot. A user has to execute Trojans. Even so, Trojan malware and Trojan virus are often used interchangeably. Whether you prefer calling it Trojan malware or a Trojan virus, it’s smart to know how this infiltrator works and what you can do to keep your devices safe.
Can a Trojan attack cause damage?
Trojan malware attacks can inflict a lot of damage . At the same time, Trojans continue to evolve. Here are three examples.
