What Is AndroRAT & How To Prevent AndroRAT Hacking?

Malware viruses are something that we all like to stay out of it. Hacking and corrupting your system, the damage can be endless. Online marketers, techies and IT professionals are well-versed with the new malware viruses, but, for those who are yet to know a new entry of an Android malware has been discovered- AndroRAT. This virus  comes with extensive data-stealing and spying abilities, allowing hackers to gain access to almost all data on infected devices. The malware, dubbed AndroRAT, was first to be discovered in year 2012.

What Is AndroRAT?

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AndroRAT a remote access Trojan for Android devices that let hackers remotely control every aspect of your phone or tablet. Now this virus is coupled with another piece of software called a binder, injecting the malicious AndroRAT code into a legitimate app and then distributing the Trojanized version was a snap. RATs have long been a common Windows threat, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that it has come to Android. A RAT has to gain root access usually by exploiting a vulnerability  in order to have control over a system. 

According to security researchers, who discovered the new version of the malware found that this virus targets a vulnerability which was then came into limelight in the year 2016. The latest version of AndroRAT is back – which is bigger, more dangerous, and cheaper than ever.

Further exposing the flaws, it lets the hackers to hijack Android devices, letting them access to an extensive amount of data stored in the infected devices. 

It is believed that this latestAndroRAT disguises itself as a malicious utility app called “TrashCleaner”, which is apparently downloaded from a malicious URL (link).

So, when the first time this TrashCleaner app runs, it prompts the Android device to install a Chinese labeled calculator app that resembles a pre-installed system calculator. At the same time, the TrashCleaner app icon disappears from the device’s UI and the AndroRAT is activated in the background.

How Android RAT Get Into My System?

What seems to be a university project, this open source application program which eventually turned out to be AndroRAT having a malific effects in the system.

Like other trojans viruses, AndroRAT gains entry through source programs carrying a trojan payload that you unknowingly install.

Some of the common sources of such programs are:

• Malicious websites designed specifically to inject Trojans
• Legitimate websites infected with Trojans
• Email attachments
• Fake updates presented for installed software
• Peer-to-peer sharing software
• Malicious video players and codecs
• Free downloadable games
• Chat software
• IRC channels
• Social media links pointing to infected files or websites

What Are The Unusual Symptoms Of AndroRAT Attack?

You may experience some unnatural network activities resulting into slow network ,Internet speed because the trojan attempts to access your network to download other malicious programs.
Registry modifications.

AndroridRAT attempts to add new registry entries and edit the present ones.  As a result, you will gradually notice slow and unusual computer behavior.

You will see a change in browser settings. The virus goes on installing the rogue files, primarily with the function of modifying your browser proxy-related settings. As a result, your Internet access slows down and unwanted websites keep getting loaded through pop-ups or directly in the active browser window.

 You might experience your computer booting up slowly, due to unknown startup programs downloaded. 

Apart from the above mentioned, you may find the virus performin below mentioned actions:

• Taking photos using the device camera
• Stealing of system information such as phone model, number, IMEI, etc.
• Theft of WiFi names connected to the device
• Mugging your call logs including incoming and outgoing calls
• Stealing your mobile network cell location
• Theft of GPS location
• Mugging up your contacts list
• Theft of list of running apps
• Monitor incoming and outgoing SMS
• Delete and send forged SMS
• Screen capture
• Enabling accessibility services for a key logger silently

Preventive Measures To Take

• Android users should abstain from downloading apps especially from the third-party app stores to avoid being targeted by threats like AndroRAT.
• Downloading only from legitimate source or app stores can go a long way when it comes to device security.
• Furthermore, make a habit to update your device’s apps and OS to reduce the risk of being affected by exploits for new vulnerabilities.

How To Remove AndroidRAT From Your PC? 

The virus  is difficult to detect and remove manually. However, most anti-malware programs are able to detect and remove it successfully. Scanning your computer with one such anti-malware will remove the virius and any files infected by it.

Unfortunately, scanning and removing the threat alone will not fix the modifications that virus had made it to your Windows Registry. You’d need to thorough clean windows registry by removing invalid registry entries using a registry cleaner program.

Use an anti-malware program to scan and remove the threat.

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