The Dangers of Remote Desktop Protocol

Security | June 1, 2022 | Zero Comments

Todd Crane

Owner

Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a great way to remotely connect to your computer. It can make your life easier by allowing you to work on your system from anywhere in the world. However, it is also a surefire way to have your system attacked. Hackers love RDP because it gives them access to your computer without any security measures in place. If you are using RDP, make sure that you are taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the dangers of using RDP and how you can protect yourself from these threats.

RDP is a great tool but it comes with some serious risks. One of the biggest dangers of using RDP is that it can be used to remotely control your computer. This means that hackers can access your system without you even knowing it. They can use your system to launch attacks on other systems or to steal sensitive information. Another danger of RDP is that it can be used to bypass security measures. This means that if you are using RDP, you need to make sure that your firewall and antivirus software is up-to-date and properly configured.

Despite the risks, there are many reasons why people continue to use RDP. One of the most popular reasons is because it allows you to work from anywhere in the world. RDP can also be used to remotely access your system if you are away from your desk. If you do decide to use RDP, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself.

First, make sure that you are using a strong password. Ensure that your system is rate-limiting your logins. You don’t want to allow an attacker to try hundreds of thousands or millions of passwords a second to guess your password. For a real person, it is unlikely that they will need more than two attempts per second.

Second, enable two-factor authentication, also called multi-factor authentication (MFA). This will add an extra layer of security to your account and make it more difficult for hackers to gain access. While any MFA is better than no MFA, we really recommend using something better than email or SMS-based MFA where the system emails you or texts a code to your phone. If at all possible, use a system like Yubikey or Apple’s Passkey system.

Finally, make sure that your firewall and security software is up-to-date and properly configured. This may actually be the most important. An up-to-date next-generation firewall and security system can prevent most attacks if configured properly. If you are using something like Norton Antivirus or McAfee, you are not safe.

While we would never, ever, recommend internet-accessible RDP, we realize that there are edge cases that require it. If you absolutely must use RDP over the internet, it is absolutely critical that you get these things correct.

About Simeon Networks

Simeon Networks is an award-winning cybersecurity firm and managed IT provider with offices in Nashville, TN, Plano, TX, and Tucson, AZ. They specialize in assessing and reducing cyber risk for small and mid-sized businesses. They can reduce complex technical problems and solutions down to the simplest of terms that any business owner can understand, regardless of technology literacy.

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