What are Remote Administration Tools?

Remote Administration Tools (RATs) are computer programs that allow their users to remotely connect to other computers and manage them from a distance without being noticed. These applications may be legitimate or parasitic.

Legitimate remote administration tools are designed for system administrators to help them take control of damaged systems and fix them. However, legitimate RATs may also be used with malicious purposes.

Once installed, parasitic remote administration tools give COMPLETE control to the hacker over the victim’s PC: the RAT user may monitor victim’s activity, manage files, install additional software at his/her own discretion, modify essential system settings, turn off or restart a computer, etc.

REMOTE ADMINISTRATION TOOL INFECTION

Remote Administration Tools must be installed on a target system before they can be used by malicious persons.

The easiest way for a malicious remote administration tool to infect your system is to exploit certain ActiveX controls and other security holes in your Internet Explorer browser. By browsing insecure websites on the internet, users may encounter various pop-ups, which secretly install parasitic RATs on your computer once clicked upon.

DESTRUCTIVE REMOTE ADMINISTRATION TOOL PAYLOAD

• As said, RATs usually give COMPLETE control over the victim’s system. It allows a malicious person to manipulate files and hardware devices, execute various commands, change any system settings, edit Windows registry, run, control and terminate any application, install arbitrary software or parasites.

• More advanced remote administration tools can also make screenshots of victim’s activity, log details of various accounts, login names, credit card numbers, login passwords, outgoing and incoming email messages and other similar data, causing serious private data theft.

REMOTE ADMINISTRATION TOOL REMOVAL: HOW TO?

As remote administration tools are similar to virus applications, they are usually easily removed by respectable anti-virus software. Anti-spyware programs also effectively detect and remove RATs from the system. If none of the above helps, please read our manual remote administration tool removal instructions.