Windows Remote Desktop (also known as RDP, or Remote Desktop Protocol) is one of those features that comes pre-installed on your computer and that you've probably never used. However, having this feature enabled when you don't need it is like leaving your back door open: nothing might ever happen, but you're making it much easier for anyone who wants to break in. This tool allows someone to take full control of your PC from another location, which is useful for remote work or technical support. The problem is that hackers know this too, and they've made RDP one of their favorite targets for infiltrating corporate computers and networks. In fact, according to a Sophos report, the RDP protocol is "one of the most abused tools" precisely because it comes pre-installed on most Windows operating systems. How cybercriminals exploit RDP to hack your computer. Brute-force attacks against RDP are commonplace. Security researchers have recorded an 85% increase in scan attempts against internet-exposed RDP servers during 2025. Essentially, attackers use automated scripts that try thousands of username and password combinations until they find the correct one. The most worrying thing is that these attacks work. According to a Microsoft study that analyzed more than 45,000 workstations, approximately 0.08% of brute-force attacks against RDP are successful. This translates to one machine being compromised every 3-4 days due to this vulnerability. Hackers have learned to be patient: instead of bombarding servers with login attempts, they try only a few combinations per hour for 2-3 days to avoid detection by firewalls. And it doesn't end there. Once an attacker gains access via RDP, the consequences can be devastating: Furthermore, vulnerabilities in the RDP protocol are constantly being discovered. As recently as February 2026, Microsoft had to patch CVE-2026-21533.A zero-day vulnerability in Remote Desktop Services allowed attackers to elevate their privileges to the SYSTEM level, gaining complete control of the computer. And this is just the latest in a long list of security flaws affecting RDP year after year.

How to disable Remote Desktop and protect your PC

The good news is that disabling Remote Desktop is super easy and you can do it in less than two minutes. Here I explain the most effective methods:

Method 1: From Windows Settings

Method 2: Control Panel (more comprehensive)

Method 3: Additional blocking with the Firewall

For an extra layer of security, you can block RDP directly in the Windows Firewall:

With these steps, you ensure that no one can remotely connect to your computer, even if they manage to guess your password.

If you don't need Remote Desktop, simply disable it. It's the simplest and most effective way to eliminate this attack vector from your system.

Millions of brute-force attacks against RDP occur every week, and botnets with more than 100,000 IP addresses are constantly scanning the internet for vulnerable machines.

GreyNoise, a threat intelligence company, reported massive waves of malicious activity specifically targeting RDP services in the United States in 2025.It reported massive waves of malicious activity in 2025 specifically targeting RDP services in the United States.It reported massive waves of malicious activity in 2025 specifically targeting RDP services in the United States.