The SOC Files: ScreenConnect masked as freeware. An inside look at a large-scale campaign

Kaspersky experts have uncovered a malicious network infrastructure for delivering AsyncRAT. The Trojan is dropped via compromised ScreenConnect software. In this post, we break down the infection chain and analyze the C2 infrastructure.

UPD 03. 07. 2026 : added a package of rules and recommendations that help detect the described malicious activity for companies using our Kaspersky SIEM system. Introduction To access compromised systems, threat actors frequently abuse legitimate remote monitoring tools. At first glance, these utilities rarely raise red flags: they are signed with valid digital certificates, often allowlisted under corporate IT policies, and fully supported by OS vendors. However, they grant attackers the ability to harvest data from target devices, drop malware, and move laterally across the network.

During a recent investigation engagement, the Kaspersky Managed Detection and Response (MDR) team discovered the ScreenConnect remote access tool being leveraged to deploy and execute an AsyncRAT payload.