Remote Access Trojans and means of protection
The Remote Access Trojans (RAT) are the harmful programs allowing hackers to remotely control your PC via Internet connection. This way the hackers may look through and change files and PC settings, spy over and record the user’s actions and use his system to infect other PCs.
How RATs get to your PC?
The RATs are usually contained in unlicensed software and other downloaded Internet files. They are transmitted as E-mails’ and instant messages’ attachments masked as funny pictures, greetings and audio and video files. By opening such attachment the user unconsciously downloads the virus. Sometimes these programs may get to your PC even without your involvement just because of your browser vulnerability.
The RATs abilities
The RAT allowing remote access to your PC may be used by hackers for following purposes.
• Frauds. Some RATs may force the user’s PC to accept the fake website as the trustworthy. So, all passwords and other data inserted at this website is used for money or private information stealing.
• Search for user’s files, their viewing, copying, changing and deleting. These tasks may be performed as singular action or at any computer start.
• Trace of keyboarded data with its further transmitting. The special programs allow hackers to process this data and detect keyboarded logs and passwords.
• Sound and picture recording by connected devices with its future saving as files and transmitting to hacker’s PC.
• Opening and closing of programs, processes and connections on infected PC.
• Invocation of pop-up windows that annoy the users or lead them to harmful websites.
• Other PCs attacking. Certain RATs are use to create a “zombie army” which is the group of numerous PCs used by hackers to overload servers with requests or to transmit viruses or spies.
Anti-RATs protective actions
• Follow the rules of safe Internet communication. Tell your main E-mail address only the well-known people and never show it in big Internet catalogues and job-searching websites. Be careful when joining Internet communities. Never open E-mails and instant messages attachments not knowing their characters and senders. Read an article “What to do with suspicious E-mails?”
• Use the trustworthy software developed by companies with good reputation. Internet is stuffed with cheap or free programs with fun or useful features. Downloading them you might lose greater money to beat the viruses that may be integrated there. Before downloading, installing and running any software from unknown sources check it carefully.
• Use firewall. The firewall prevents RATs and other harmful programs from getting to your PC. Windows Vista and XP with SP2 updating package already have it and it is on by default. When using different OS read an article “How to enable your firewall?”
• Regularly update your software. To get the latest updates visit Microsoft Updates Center. Having troubles with installation read an article “Microsoft Updates Center: the questions and answers”.
• Use and regularly update the antivirus. If you are Windows Vista or XP user you have 90 days of Windows Live OneCare free use. For previous OS editions read “Antivirus purchase”.
• Use and regularly update the anti-spy. Windows Defender for example may protect you from some RATs. Windows Defender is included to Windows Vista and XP SP2 users may download it for free.
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