Short on time?
I recommend Norton to remove RAT malware its the best antivirus in 2025.
Taken together, these security features make Norton a proverbial RAT trap.
That said, any ofmy top antiviruseswill also do the trick.
Step 1.
But there are a few things you should know first.
Ensure youre buying your antivirus from the companys real website, too, and not a scam website.
After purchasing your antivirus, go to your Downloads window and double-smack the antiviruss installation file.
Next, clickInstalland follow the prompts.
The installation wizard will handle the rest, though youll have to click a few buttons.
Customize your initial parameters, and its finished!
Step 2.
Subsequent scans will be significantly faster, however.
Step 3.
Youll get details like file names, locations, and a bar that indicates its threat level.
Step 4.
If you have Norton, openDevice Security, then click onSecurity.Afterward, open theAdvancedtab.
Real-time protection will be activated.
This step will be a bit different for each antivirus.
For example, the real-time protection onBitdefenderis called Bitdefender Shield.
Having real-time protection turned on prevents RAT malware and other threats from infecting your rig in the future.
Most antiviruses will tell you to do this, but if that doesnt happen, reboot your gadget manually.
Once your machine has rebooted, run one more full scan.
Some malware can be particularly nasty and spread to the remotest parts of your gadget.
Thats why its always a good idea to run a second scan.
Step 6.
A free antivirus is better than nothing, but its not ideal.
Free antiviruses from shady companies can even contain their own spyware, adware, or more dangerous malware.
Eventhe best free antiviruseslack the tools to properly deal with RATs.
If your gear has been running especially slowly lately, chances are you have malware.
you could check yourTask Manager to see if youre running any suspicious programs.
If youre a tech-savvy Windows user, you could checksystem.iniprocesses and look for unusual information.
PressCTRL + SHIFT + ESCto do this.
There, youll see a list of processes that are running as well as information about your drivers.
To check your data pipe, pop pop the Resource Monitor.
Look for any connections that are either taking a lot of bandwidth or that you dont recognize.
How Does RAT Malware Get Onto Your System?
RATs, like most forms of malware, get on your gadget through social engineering.
Always pay attention to the domain name of websites.
Just like with real rats, its usually never just one.
For example, a vulnerability found on your printer could let a hacker invade your whole web connection.
What Can Happen if Your System Gets Infected With RAT Malware?
RATS can slow down and damage your gadget, but thats far from the worst they can do.
RATs are mainly used to give hackers a gateway into your gadget or data pipe.
If you have a RAT on your rig, it will let hackers download even more malware onto it.
Can RAT Malware Infect Mobile Devices?
Yes, RAT malware can infect a mobile gadget just as easily as a PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RAT malware?
A Remote Access Trojan (RAT) allows hackers to take control of your gadget remotely.
Basically, its a form of spyware that can be more subtle than other forms of malware.
Fortunately, it can easily be beaten with agood antivirus(e.g.
Can an antivirus remove RAT malware?
Yes using an antivirusis the easiest and most efficient way to remove RAT malware.
My favorite antivirus, Norton, offers more than just a powerful antivirus engine.
I also like Bitdefender, which uses cloud-based technology so it isnt as taxing on low-end devices.
How to detect RAT malware?
But fortunately,premium antivirusescan easily identify and remove RATs and other forms of malware.
Its also a good idea to do so if you havent scanned your system in a while.
Why is RAT malware dangerous?
RAT malware provides a gateway for hackers to infiltrate your system.
