Is your computer safe, or has it been infected with a RAT?

Many of us start up our computer and conduct all types of activities and business, including banking, without a second thought.

Imagine this scenario, you are sitting at your computer browsing the web, sending a few emails, checking your bank balance, making a few online purchases with your credit card and updating your personal finances. However without you knowing and without any indication that something is wrong, someone half a world away is monitoring everything you are doing, they can view your computer screen as though they were sitting in front of it, every keystroke you are typing is being recorded electronically, they can even turn on your connected or integrated camera and microphone to watch and listen to everything you say and do.

The scenario above is scary and it happens to millions of people every day and they are completely oblivious.

This is made possible by software available on hacking forums on the "deep web", and most of this software is free.

This software is called "RAT" which stands for Remote Access Terminal. There are some remote access software packages available for legitimate purposes such as IT managers remotely managing computers etc, but the RAT packages I am talking about do a lot more than the legitimate ones.

"RAT can be installed on your computer by visiting an infected website, clicking on a link or picture that was emails to you by a friends spoofed email address, downloading a legitimate software package that has been infected, viewing a video on YouTube. Those are just a few ways in which your computer can be infected with RAT.It take only one second to install and infect your computer and you would have no idea that it has because it automatically turns off you antivirus programs and disable your firewall without any indication that it has done so. You could have been infected for weeks, months or years without knowing it." Said Rick crouch, managing director of digital forensics and investigation company Rick Crouch & Associates.

"Some of the very scary things a hacker can do with a RAT are; view your computer screen and everything you are doing as if they were sitting in front of your computer, log all your key strokes, turn on your camera, turn on your microphone, copy files to and from your computer and delete files to name a few. And you will have no indication at all that this is happening," added Crouch.

You will not know if your computer has been infected by a RAT, if you suspect you may have been infected contact a computer forensics company like Rick crouch & Associates as they would have all the current tools needed to detect a RAT on your computer. Your corner computer repair company or local Incredible Connection or Best Buy simply will not have the capabilities to detect and remove a RAT should you have been infected.

Media Contact:

Rick CrouchManaging DirectorRick Crouch & Associates073 418-6996This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.rickcrouch.co.zawww.rickcrouch.co.za/tblPressRelease_Detail.asp?id=18