Your Guide to the Klingon RAT

What is A RAT (Remote Access Trojan)?

Remote access trojans are created to steal a user’s passwords and other personal information as well as provide the remote owner access. This can be accomplished by setting up the malware on your work computer, in emails, or even in spoofed websites.

At first, the RAT will install itself onto the targeted machine. Once on the target machine, the malware can perform any number of tasks such as key logging, capturing audio from a microphone and audio chats. From there, a hacker can connect to your machine through the internet and have access to your files or monitor what you are doing on a daily basis.

How Do RATs Spread?

It is unknown how these RATs spread, but it is assumed that they are spread through both intentional and unintentional methods of distribution. Although the spread of such malware is not always intentional, some may be sold as a form of software by hackers to provide income or other forms of profit. Other ways that RATs may spread and be introduced into an environment are through email attachments with malicious code, or websites that unbeknownst to the owner have been designed by hackers to perform a remote hack.

How Does Klingon RAT Work?

Klingon RAT is a version of the Remote Access Trojan. Klingon RAT works by sending messages to the compromised computer via Telegram and also uses Skype and Zello for communication. Klingon RAT is sometimes referred to as kRAT, kKrat, kKrat, or kkRat. Klingon RAT was first identified in the wild in April 2016 and is considered to be one of the malicious programs that is part of a Flad-affiliated group known as Lazarus.

Klingon RAT will install itself onto a targeted machine by downloading itself through a link on a compromised website. Upon installation, Klingon RAT will then take over the system and display its various features such as the ability to change the desktop wallpaper or desktop icons, monitoring of keystrokes, voice recordings, webcam images and microphone recording (although these functions may vary between different versions).

How to Remove Klingon RAT

To remove kRAT, one must firstly uninstall the malware. This can be done by using a special application that is designed for this purpose. Experts highly recommend scanning the computer both before and after uninstalling the RAT.

Another method of removal would be to use a system restore point that was created prior to infection, which will revert all parts of your computer back in time with regards to how it was set up before the infection occurred (including software).

The last recommendation would be for those who are novices in the field of removal of malware to simply format the computer and start over, as this will be the easiest solution to preventing future infections.

How to Protect My Computer From Remote Access Trojans

1) Install and update the antivirus program on your computer.
2) Schedule your computer to shutdown/restart automatically in order to prevent infections from spreading (useful when not at home or pc is turned off).
3) Change the default administrator account password of your pc.
4) Make sure you know how to use the built-in "safe mode" on your computer.
5) Search for known threats in order to identify if there are any forms of malware installed on the machine that can be removed by running a scan with a trusted program.