If you suspect a remote access trojan (RAT) on a Windows PC, disconnect the computer from Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth first. Then use a separate, clean device to change important passwords, run an updated Microsoft Defender full scan, and escalate to Microsoft Defender Offline or a clean restore if the threat persists. These steps can limit further access, but they cannot establish whether an attacker already copied data or credentials.
1. Disconnect the PC from every network
Turn off Wi-Fi, unplug Ethernet, and disable Bluetooth. Microsoft’s Remcos guidance recommends disconnecting all networks when responding to that threat. Isolation also prevents a suspected RAT from continuing to communicate while you secure accounts and scan the computer.
Do not use the suspected PC to sign in to email, banking, or other important accounts. If you need to look up instructions or change credentials, do it on a different device you trust.
2. Secure accounts from a clean device
Using a separate, clean phone or computer, change the password for your email account first, then update passwords for other important online accounts. Email is especially important because it may be used to reset access to other services. If the affected PC held account credentials, changing them is part of recovery, even if a later scan removes the malware.
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Check bank and credit-card statements for activity you do not recognize. A malware scan cannot reverse data theft or prove that credentials were not exposed.
3. Run an updated Microsoft Defender full scan
If Windows is usable, start with a normal full scan. Update Microsoft Defender security intelligence before scanning so it has current malware definitions. Microsoft’s unwanted-software guidance recommends using the latest intelligence and running a full scan; a full scan examines files and programs on the device.
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Use Windows Security to update protection and start the full scan. If Defender detects a threat, follow the action Windows Security offers and review the result in Protection history. If the detection remains or you suspect malware is concealing itself while Windows is running, move to an offline scan.
4. Run Microsoft Defender Offline if needed
Microsoft Defender Offline restarts the PC and scans outside the usual Windows environment, which can make persistent malware harder to hide. Microsoft says the scan runs “without loading Windows, so any persistent malware has a more difficult time hiding or defending itself” in its Windows Security virus and threat protection documentation.
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- Save open work, since starting the scan restarts the computer.
- Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.
- Select Microsoft Defender Offline scan, then choose Scan now.
- After Windows restarts and the scan finishes, open Windows Security > Protection history to see the result.
This built-in option is available in Windows 10 version 1607 or later and Windows 11. A bootable USB is not required for those supported versions.
5. Consider a second on-demand scan
Microsoft Safety Scanner is an optional manually run tool for finding and removing malware. It does not replace real-time antivirus protection, and each download expires after 10 days; download a fresh copy when you need to use it. Get it from Microsoft’s Safety Scanner download page.
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6. Avoid improvised registry and startup cleanup
Malware cleanup instructions can be specific to a particular threat family. For example, Microsoft’s WinLNK threat guidance discusses Safe Mode and startup locations for that threat. Those details are not universal indicators of a RAT.
Do not delete unfamiliar registry keys, scheduled tasks, or system files based on a generic checklist. Removing a legitimate Windows component can damage the system, and artifacts differ between malware families. If scans do not resolve the problem, use a trusted specialist or proceed to a clean recovery option rather than guessing at system changes.
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7. Restore or reset Windows if cleanup fails
If the infection is severe or persists after scanning, consider restoring from a clean offline backup that predates the suspected infection, or performing a complete Windows reset. Microsoft’s Remcos instructions describe restore and reset as severe-case options, not the automatic next step for every antivirus alert.
Choose a backup only if you trust it and know it predates the compromise. A backup made after the infection may reintroduce compromised files. Because a reset is a substantial recovery step, follow Windows’ reset guidance and make sure important files are backed up safely before proceeding.
Which response fits the situation?
| Option | When to use it | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Defender full scan | Windows is usable and this is the first scan. | Update security intelligence first; the scan examines files and programs. |
| Defender Offline | A detection persists, malware may hide during normal Windows operation, or you want a scan outside that environment. | It restarts the PC; check Protection history for results. |
| Microsoft Safety Scanner | You want an optional second on-demand scan. | It is not ongoing protection and expires 10 days after download. |
| Clean backup restore or Windows reset | The infection is severe or cleanup has not worked. | Use a trusted backup known to predate the infection; reset is a substantial recovery measure. |
| Bootable USB media | Defender Offline must be started on older Windows versions that require media. | Create media on a clean PC; Microsoft warns the USB drive will be reformatted. See Microsoft’s Defender Offline media instructions. |
What a cleanup can—and cannot—tell you
A RAT can let an attacker control a device and may steal passwords, sign-in details, or browsing history, according to Microsoft’s Remcos threat information. Removing malware addresses the compromised computer, but does not establish whether information was already taken or whether an account was accessed. That is why account security and reviewing financial activity belong alongside device cleanup.
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