How RATs Work and How to Protect Your Smartphone
Remote Access Trojans, known as RATs, are trojans that allow cybercriminals to completely control a smartphone 📱. They can access messages, photos, contacts, passwords, and even activate the microphone or camera without the user's knowledge, becoming a serious threat to privacy.
How a RAT Works on a Smartphone
The malware is installed through fake applications, suspicious links, or email and message attachments. Once active, it communicates with a remote control server that allows the attacker to:
- Read and send messages: access to SMS, WhatsApp, and other messaging apps.
- Track location: real-time geolocation.
- Hardware control: activate microphone or camera without permission.
- Steal credentials: passwords, banking and social media app tokens.
- Manipulate files: download, upload, or delete documents and photos.
Prevention and Best Practices
Avoid installing applications from outside official stores, keep the operating system and apps updated, and use reliable mobile security solutions 🔒. Furthermore, educating yourself about phishing and suspicious links is key to protecting your personal and corporate information.
The RAT can snoop on everything on your smartphone… but it still can't make you remember where you left the charger 🔌.