TorRAT malware

Posted: April 23, 2013

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	13

First Seen:	April 23, 2013
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The TorRAT malware is a malicious form of Remote Administration Tool that enables criminals to control your computer by issuing various instructions, installing other malware and working around your computer's security features. Even though the TorRAT malware has been identified for an extended period of time, the TorRAT malware's latest distribution scheme has placed a heavy emphasis on the TorRAT malware in cybersecurity news. By hijacking Twitter accounts to spam malicious links to new victims, the TorRAT malware enables its own distribution swiftly and efficiently. Twitter users are advised to avoid clicking obfuscated links, and, if you do suspect that your PC may have been infected, SpywareRemove.com malware experts encourage the use of anti-malware applications to remove the TorRAT malware.

The TorRAT malware: a Twitter-Spawned Overseer to Your PC

The TorRAT malware has been known to be distributed in multiple ways, but the most current method uses the expedient infection vector of Twitter spam. After infecting a vulnerable PC, the TorRAT malware hijacks the Twitter user's account (through an attack that malware researchers have identified as a form of browser injection, similar to the attacks popularized by various banking Trojans) and sends its spam messages out automatically. These messages include a link to a malicious site that hosts a Java exploit which is used to install the TorRAT malware in a typical drive-by-download style attack.

SpywareRemove.com malware experts warn that, since Twitter's character limit often causes users to shorten URLs as a matter of practicality, it may be difficult to distinguish between the TorRAT malware's spam and normal Twitter messages. When in doubt, you never should click on a link that may be compromised – instead, travel to the website you want to access by entering the address yourself.

Getting this Dirty RAT Out of Your Computer

Remote Administration Tools like the TorRAT malware often are used as a kind of backdoor Trojan, and usually allow criminals to have a very dangerous level of control over an infected computer. Problems associated with the TorRAT malware can include:

Disabled or impeded security applications like the Windows Firewall or Task Manager.
The presence of various other forms of malware that are installed through TorRAT malware.
Unusual setting changes that criminals can initiate through the TorRAT malware. One of the most ordinary alterations is the web browser's security functions (such as alerts on the display of potentially hazardous downloads) being disabled.
The TorRAT malware also has been known to target financial information, such as bank account passwords. This information is stolen and transferred to criminals who may use it to compromise any accessible accounts.

If your computer has been compromised by the TorRAT malware, SpywareRemove.com malware experts recommend taking immediate action to limit the TorRAT malware's further dissemination through your Twitter account. Deleting the TorRAT malware, like most forms of backdoor Trojans, should use a dependable anti-malware product that also can take care of any other PC threats related to your TorRAT malware infection.

TorRAT malware

Threat Metric

The TorRAT malware: a Twitter-Spawned Overseer to Your PC

Getting this Dirty RAT Out of Your Computer

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