Warning: Because this tool interacts with system logs and scripts, many antivirus engines may flag it as "hacktool" or "riskware." This is often a false positive, as legitimate log parsers can be misused.
Navigate to the tool folder:
cd C:\Tools\RDP_Recognizer
Run the main script (typically named Analyze-RDP.ps1):
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass
.\Analyze-RDP.ps1 -StartDate "2025-01-01" -EndDate "2025-01-31"
Parameters may vary. Check the included README. RDP Recognizer.rar
Choose output format: The script will prompt:
Administrators managing multiple RDP hosts (e.g., terminal servers) can use the tool to spot forgotten or lingering user sessions that consume licenses.
For the tool to work, your Windows system must be logging RDP events. By default, this is enabled, but confirm: Warning: Because this tool interacts with system logs
Cybersecurity students use it to understand how Windows manages RDP sessions and how attackers might enumerate active connections.
RDP Recognizer.rar is a compressed archive file (using WinRAR or 7-Zip format) that contains a lightweight executable tool designed to detect, monitor, and log active and past Remote Desktop Protocol sessions on a Windows machine. The "Recognizer" part of the name implies its primary function: identifying RDP connection attempts, active user sessions, and sometimes even brute-force attacks on port 3389.
Unlike built-in Windows tools (such as qwinsta or Event Viewer), RDP Recognizer aims to provide a quick, user-friendly, and portable solution. It does not require installation, making it ideal for incident response and forensic analysis. Navigate to the tool folder:
cd C:\Tools\RDP_Recognizer
Many versions of RDP Recognizer include geolocation mapping. To enable this:
This generates an interactive map showing attack hotspots.