This is a RAT, developed by Jean-Pierre Lesueur known as DarkCoderSc, an independent programmer and computer security coder from France. Though it was developed back in 2008 it began to proliferate in 2012. DarkComet-RAT Free Download was partially discontinued due to its use in the Syrian Civil War to monitor activists but mainly due to its author’s fear of being arrested for unknown reasons. By 2018, the programs developed were ceased indefinitely plus downloads are not offered anymore on its official site.
With this user can control the system with GUI, it has other features with which users can use it as an administrative remote tool as well however, it has many features which can be maliciously used. It can also be used to spy on victims by taking screenshots, password stealing, and key-logging.
What is DarkComet-RAT
It was linked to the Syrian Conflict back in 2014; people in Syria started using a secure connection to bypass the government’s censorship and surveillance of the net. This caused its government to restore using it to spy on its civilians. Most people believe that this led to the arrests of many activists.
It was distributed through a “booby-trapped Skype chat message” which had a message with FB icon which in reality was an executable file that was designed to install DarkComet. Once infected, the victim’s machine would try and send messages to other users having this.
He stopped making the tool once it was linked to the Syrian Regime.
The Arbos Network back in 2012 founded its evidence being used to target military and gamers by unknown security thefts from Africa. At the moment, they target the US mainly.
In the 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris, security thefts used the slogan #JeSuisCharlie to trick people to download this. It was disguised as a picture of a new newborn baby whose wristband read “Je Suis Charlie”, once it was downloaded, users became compromised. Thefts took advantage of the disaster to compromise systems. Within 24hrs of the attack, it was spotted.
READ ALSO: Download Sentry MBA (Configurations Included).
DarkComet RAT Latest Features
This like many other RATs uses reverse-socket architecture. Uninfected systems with GUI enabling control of infected ones are the client while infected ones without GUI are the servers.
When it executes, the server connects with the client and allows it to control and monitor the server. The client at this point can use any features which GUI carries. The socket is opened on the server and waits to get packets from the controller and executes commands when received.
The following list is not exhaustive but is the critical one that makes it a dangerous tool. Many of these are used to take over a system and allow clients complete access when granted through UAC.
- Spying Capabilities:
This allows you to spy on various devices. It installs with a very stealthy method and does not take many system resources. This keeps it hidden from security solutions or any suspicions from the user. It can read messages, check for any files, and read messages from any chat apps like Messenger or WhatsApp for desktop. You can also do this for Android devices using AndroRAT App.
- Network Capabilities:
This transforms DarkComet into a completely different tool. It has all of the features that other utilities like Wireshark have to offer.
- On-system Capabilities:
Once it infects the victim with the RAT you have control over 95% of the data on the desktop. It allows you to see all processes running, access command-prompt, files, and other folders.
- Server Capabilities:
It also works across a variety of server operating systems. This includes Linux, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019.
- Remote chat for chatting with other administrators.
- Microsoft reader to help you open PDF and Word documents.
- Fun manager.
READ ALSO: What is OctoSniff Free and how to download it?
DarkComet RAT Antivirus Evasion Technique
It is a commonly known piece of malware. If someone installs any anti-virus or DarkComet remover then they are able to infect their system quickly. Target machines are from Windows XP up to Windows 10.
Some common anti-virus tags for this app are as following:
- DarkComet and Win32.DarkKomet!O.
- BDS/DarkKomet.GS.
- Trojan[Backdoor]/Win32.DarkKomet.xyk.
When a system is infected, it tries to establish a connection through the socket to the controller system. Once established, the infected system listens for commands from the controller, if the controller sends out a command, the infected system gets it and executes whatever function is sent.
How DarkComet RAT Infects Computers and Networks
Cyber-criminals use Trojans, spam campaigns, dubious file or software download, fake software, or unofficial activation tools to trick people into downloading and installing this program or any malware. To trick people into download unwanted installations via cyber-criminals, spam campaigns send emails that carry malicious attachments.
When recipients open the files only then do these files install malicious software. These files include PDF documents, Microsoft Office Documents, Executable files like .exe archive files like RAR, ZIP, Javascript files, and many others.
Malware is proliferated through Trojans but it works only if it is already installed on the system, when installed, it downloads and installs unwanted programs. Untrusted download sources include third-party downloaders, unofficial web pages, peer-to-peer networks like torrent clients, eMute, freeware download pages or free file hosting, and much more.
These are used by cyber-criminals to proliferate malicious software by uploading files that are disguised as regular and harmless. Once downloaded and opened, these files begin the installation of other malware rather than update.
The fake update tools infect the systems when they download and install this other than updates, fixes, and others or when they exploit bugs of outdated programs. Unofficial cracking is also known as cracking tools that activate paid software with a single penny. In most cases, such tools are designed by cyber-criminals and used to proliferate malicious programs.
READ ALSO: Download Havij Latest Version v1.16.
How to stay safe from DarkComet RAT
- Try not to open attachments, files, or click links that are included in irrelevant emails if you receive them from unknown sources and suspicious addresses.
- Use official sites and direct download links to download software and files.
- Do not trust different third-party downloaders, installers, and other tools.
- Update all the installed programs with implemented functions or tools provided by official developers, the same applies to activation of paid programs.
- It is not legal to bypass payment for licensed software using cracking tools therefore keep your systems safe by scanning it regularly with reputable anti-virus or anti-virus software and make sure to keep it up to date.
- If your system is infected already, we suggest you run a scan with Combo Cleaner Anti-virus for Windows to eliminate infiltrated malware automatically.
Update: We can confirm after internal testing that it is fully working on Windows 11. The stability and response of DarkComet are the same without any crashes or unexpected behavior.
Download DarkComet RAT Free For Windows 10/11
This was all you needed to know for DarkComet-RAT Free Download which is a highly versatile remote administration tool. You can easily use it for gaining remote access on other desktops without making other users aware. Currently, in the wild, it is used by security researchers or ethical hackers for testing the measures in place on different organizations.
The history of DarkComet was also shared above of what happened with it over the years and why it has become so infamous. We have provided the latest version to have the most stable build. A question frequently asked, Is DarkComet safe to use? Yes, it is if you get it from the trusted source we shared.
Release: 5.3.1
Real source code from GitHub and official, awesome.
I prefer version 5.3.1 over 5.4.1, it’s more stable.
I agree, it’s better overall.