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Remote Access Trojan (RAT)

A remote access Trojan (RAT) is a type of malware that disguises itself as legitimate software while silently granting an attacker full remote control over an infected system. RATs function as command-and-control (C2) tools, enabling attackers to pivot from a compromised machine into the broader network.

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About this video

A remote access Trojan (RAT) is a category of malware designed to give an unauthorized party covert, persistent control over a compromised system. The "Trojan" designation reflects its deceptive nature: the malware disguises itself as a legitimate application or hides within background processes, making it difficult for the end user to detect its presence through normal observation. Once active, the RAT establishes a remote connection back to the attacker, effectively functioning as command-and-control (C2) infrastructure embedded directly on the victim machine. This allows the attacker to issue commands, exfiltrate data, and manipulate the infected system as if they had direct physical access to it. Because a RAT provides that level of interactive control, it is frequently used as a beachhead in broader network intrusions. An attacker who successfully deploys a RAT on a single endpoint can leverage that access to probe internal network resources, escalate privileges, and move laterally to additional systems — making RATs a foundational tool in both targeted attacks and large-scale threat campaigns.

What you'll learn

What's covered

Remote Access Trojan (RAT)

Key terms

Remote Access Trojan
RAT
A Remote Access Trojan is malware that provides an attacker with persistent unauthorized remote control over a compromised system, typically establishing a covert command and control channel and enabling keylogging, screen capture, and data exfiltration.
Trojan Horse
Malware disguised as legitimate software that performs malicious actions when executed.
Malware
Software specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a system.
Command and Control
C2
Command and Control refers to the infrastructure and communication channels used by attackers to issue instructions to and receive data from compromised systems, enabling persistent access and coordinated attack operations.
Backdoor
A hidden method of bypassing normal authentication or security controls to gain unauthorized access.

Topics

Remote Access Trojan Command And Control Malware Network Infiltration Cybersecurity Threat Analysis

Transcript

Really, the name here, remote access Trojan or RAT, says it all: it's a Trojan that provides remote access. The Trojan part of this just means that it's misleading or deceptive, just like the Trojan horse. We have some sort of software that mimics other types of software. The end user might not see this visually, but maybe it's running in the background and appears as a different service.

What is it doing for us? It's giving us remote access to another system so we can control it. Because of this, I also like to think of it as a C2 type of software. So it's C2 malware that allows us to control another machine. I'd have a RAT that would be installed on this machine right here, and then I would control it from my machine, therefore getting access to the rest of the network.

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