Device Security

    How to Find Remote-Access Tools on Your Windows PC

    Scammers love remote-access tools. Here is how to find every one installed on your PC and check whether it has been used.

    6 min read · Beginner friendly

    Tools to look for

    There are dozens of legitimate remote tools — most also abused by scammers. Common ones:

    • AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Assist, UltraViewer, ScreenConnect / ConnectWise Control
    • LogMeIn, Splashtop, Supremo, RustDesk, Parsec, Chrome Remote Desktop
    • Built-in Windows Remote Desktop (RDP), Windows Remote Assistance

    Step 1: Search Installed apps

    Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Use the search box to type each tool name above one at a time.

    Sort by Date installed and review anything from the last 30 days.

    Step 2: Check running processes

    Open Task Manager → Details tab. Look for processes like AnyDesk.exe, TeamViewer.exe, UltraViewer_Service.exe, ScreenConnect.WindowsClient.exe, QuickAssist.exe.

    Right-click any suspicious process → Open file location to see where it lives.

    Step 3: Check Windows Services

    Press Win + R, type services.msc and press Enter.

    Sort by Status. Look for services running with names matching the tools above. Any service set to 'Automatic' will start at every boot.

    Step 4: Check connection logs

    AnyDesk: open the app → menu → Connection trace. Or check C:\ProgramData\AnyDesk\connection_trace.txt.

    TeamViewer: open the app → Help → Open log files. Look for incoming connections from IDs you do not recognise.

    Windows RDP: open Event Viewer → Applications and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → TerminalServices-LocalSessionManager → Operational.

    If you see incoming connections from IDs or IPs you do not recognise, treat the PC as compromised: change passwords from a different device first, then continue cleaning up.

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