{"id":41056,"date":"2015-02-16T06:00:26","date_gmt":"2015-02-16T14:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.mcafee.com\/?p=41056"},"modified":"2025-08-15T09:21:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T16:21:27","slug":"what-is-rat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/what-is-rat\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Remote Administration Tool (RAT)?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever felt like your computer was possessed? Or that you aren\u2019t the only one using your tablet? I think I smell a rat. Literally, a RAT.<\/p>\n

A RAT or remote administration tool, is software that gives a person full control a tech device, remotely. The RAT gives the user access to your system, just as if they had physical access to your device. With this access, the person can access your files, use your camera, and even turn on\/off your device.<\/p>\n

RATs can be used legitimately. For example, when you have a technical problem on your work computer, sometimes your corporate IT guys will use a RAT to access your computer and fix the issue.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, usually the people who use RATs \u00a0are hackers (or rats) trying to do harm to your device or gain access to your information for malicious purposes. These type of RATs are also called remote access \u00a0<\/a> as they are often downloaded invisibly without your knowledge, with a legitimate program you requested\u2014such as a game.<\/p>\n

Once the RAT is installed on your device, the hacker \u00a0can wreak havoc. They could steal your sensitive information, block your keyboard so you can\u2019t type, install other malware<\/a>, and even render your devices useless. They \u00a0could also<\/p>\n

A well-designed RAT will allow the hacker the ability to do anything that they could do with physical access to the device. So remember, just like you don\u2019t want your home infested by rats, you also don\u2019t want a RAT on your device. Here are some tips on how you can avoid a RAT.<\/p>\n