How to remove Agent Tesla RAT

What is Agent Tesla RAT

Agent Tesla is a sophisticated piece of malware that has been a significant threat in the cybersecurity landscape since its first appearance in 2014. It is classified as a Remote Access Trojan (RAT), which means it allows attackers to remotely control an infected computer. Over the years, Agent Tesla has evolved, incorporating various features that make it a potent tool for cyber espionage and data theft. This article delves into the history, features, infection methods, and removal techniques of Agent Tesla RAT. Agent Tesla is a multi-functional RAT with a wide range of capabilities. It is written in .NET and can perform keylogging, clipboard capture, and screen capturing. Additionally, it can extract credentials from various applications, including web browsers, email clients, VPNs, and FTP clients. The malware can also disable system utilities like Task Manager and Control Panel to evade detection and removal. The data stolen by Agent Tesla is usually encrypted using the Rijndael algorithm and encoded with a non-standard base64 function before being transmitted to a command-and-control (C&C) server. This ensures that the exfiltrated information remains confidential even if intercepted during transmission.

How Agent Tesla RAT infected your system

Agent Tesla primarily spreads through phishing emails containing malicious attachments or links. These emails are often crafted to appear as legitimate correspondence from reputable sources, exploiting social engineering techniques to trick users into executing the malware. The malware has been observed using various file formats for distribution, including Microsoft Office documents that exploit macro functionality and vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-11882. Another notable method of infection is through the use of malicious websites that sell the RAT under the pretense of a legitimate service. These sites often change their addresses to avoid detection and takedown by authorities.

1. Download Agent Tesla RAT Removal Tool
2. Use Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool to remove Agent Tesla RAT
3. Use Autoruns to remove Agent Tesla RAT
4. Files, folders and registry keys of Agent Tesla RAT
5. Other aliases of Agent Tesla RAT
6. How to protect from threats, like Agent Tesla RAT

Remove Agent Tesla RAT manually

Manual removal of Agent Tesla RAT by inexperienced users may become a difficult task because it does not create entries in Add/Remove Programs under Control Panel, does not install browser extensions, and uses random file names. However, there are pre-installed instruments in the Windows system, that allow you to detect and remove malware without using third-party applications. One of them is Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. It comes with Windows Update in Windows 11, 10, 8. 8.1. For older operating system you can download it here: 64-bit version | 32-bit version.

Remove Agent Tesla RAT using Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

1. Type mrt in the search box near Start Menu.
2. Run mrt clicking on found item.
3. Click Next button.
4. Choose one of the scan modes Quick scan, Full scan, Customize scan (Full scan recommended).
5. Click Next button.
6. Click on View detailed results of the scan link to view the scan details.
7. Click Finish button.

Remove Agent Tesla RAT using Autoruns

Agent Tesla RAT often sets up to run at Windows startup as an Autorun entry or Scheduled task.

1. Download Autoruns using this link.
2. Extract the archive and run Autoruns.exe file.
3. In Options menu make sure there are checkboxes near Hide Empty Locations, Hide Microsoft Entries, and Hide Windows Entries.
4. Search for suspicious entries with weird names or running from locations like: C:\{username}\AppData\Roaming.
5. Right-click on suspicious entry and choose Delete. This will prevent the threat to run at startup.
6. Switch to Scheduled Tasks tab and do the same.
7. To remove files themselves, click on suspicious entries and choose Jump to Entry…. Remove files or registry keys found.

Remove files, folder and registry keys of Agent Tesla RAT

Agent Tesla RAT files and folders


{randomname}.exe


Agent Tesla RAT registry keys


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Aliases of Agent Tesla RAT

How to protect from threats, like Agent Tesla RAT, in future

Standard Windows protection or any decent third-party antivirus (Norton, Avast, Kaspersky) should be able to detect and remove Agent Tesla RAT. However, if you got infected with Agent Tesla RAT with existing and updated security software, you may consider changing it. To feel safe and protect your PC from Agent Tesla RAT on all levels (browser, e-mail attachments, Word or Excel scripts, file system) we recommend a leading provider of internet security solutions – BitDefender. Its solutions both for home and business users proved to be one of the most advanced and effective. Choose and get your BitDefender protection via the button below:

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