Not scared yet? Meet RATS

As if we didn't already have enough to look out for while using our laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphone, RATS, or Remote Administration Trojan, is another harmful form of malware out there waiting to do damage. RATS is defined as, "malicious programs that run invisibly on host PCs and permit an intruder remote access and control". As stated in our presentation, trojan horses disguise themselves as useful software so that the user of the computer will not suspect a potential danger. In fact, this type of malware has used a number of different avenues to get into computers including:

• Per-to-Peer Sites
• Java Exploits
• Social Media and chat accounts
• Phishing emails

Blackshades NET is software developed to allow user the ability to spy on either the spouse, children or any one else that uses the computers. But while a cautious mother may think she is getting software to keep a monitor of what her children do on the internet, that software is taking full control of the computer and possibly cause major damage.

Blackshades Net is capable of installing Ransomware, torrent seeders, USB infectors, Facebook controllers and more. Torrent seeders allowing the malware to continuously be spread via fake torrent descriptions. USB infectors install the malware on USB drives and spread the malware when that USB drive is plugged into a different computer. Facebook controllers take advantage of users not completely logging out of their Facebook accounts before closing their browser. The malware will make posts of behalf of the users linking others to malicious software.

As bleak as it sounds, malicious software is getting more sophisticated each and every day. Anti-Virus software can only do so much. Users must be mindful of exactly what they are downloading and agreeing to.



References:

Grimes, Robert. "Danger: Remote Access Trojans." Microsoft. N.p.. Web. 30 Oct 2013. <http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd632947.asp&xgt;. 

Kujawa, Adam. " You Dirty RAT! Part 2 – BlackShades NET ." . Malawarebytes, 15 Jun 2012. Web. 30 Oct 2013. <http://blog.malwarebytes.org/intelligence/2012/06/you-dirty-rat-part-2-blackshades-net/>.