Remote Access Tool Project Terminated by Developer Following Abuse

The main developer of a highly-popular remote access tool application has called it quits after the application was put to malicious use. Jean-Pierre Lesueur, the developer behind the DarkComet RAT took the files offline and even posted a removal tool for his application.

His decision to terminate the product is based on proof that DarkComet was being used to target Syrian activists who were lured into installing the Trojan over Skype.

“Unlike so many of you seem to believe i can be held responsible of your actions, and if there is something i will not tolerate is to have to pay the consequences for your mistakes and I will not cover for you,” wrote Lesueur in a note on the project`s web space.

Remote access tools are applications that allow a third party to connect to a computer out of physical reach and take complete control of it. Most of these remote access tools are specially developed for providing support or access to a computer in a different network or region. However, some other tools (including the DarkComet RAT) are mainly designed to keep an eye on children or employees and are designed to provide no visual cues about the presence of a remote connection with the attacker. In this case, it is just a matter of time until they get put to malicious use.