Press Win + R, type shell:startup, and delete any shortcut pointing to anydesk542exe. Also, check Task Scheduler for any triggers named "AnyDesk" or random alphanumeric strings.
In 99% of cases: Yes, delete it.
Unless you are an IT professional who deliberately saved an old, renamed version for a specific legacy machine, this file has no business on your system.
AnyDesk publishes security advisories regularly. Older versions like 5.4.2 almost certainly have known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). For example:
Arthur found the file. It sat in his downloads folder like a dormant mine. He double-clicked. anydesk542exe
He expected a banking window. Instead, a small window popped up. It asked for permission to make changes to his computer. He clicked 'Yes.' The installation ran silently in the background.
Then, the nine-digit ID appeared on his screen.
"Read me the numbers, Mr. Arthur," Vikram said.
Arthur read them. 852 419 032.
Vikram typed the numbers into his own machine. He initiated the session.
Arthur’s screen showed a prompt: Allow Connection?
"Click accept, Mr. Arthur. That is just the secure tunnel opening."
Arthur clicked.
Suddenly, Arthur’s mouse cursor began to move on its own. It was a jerky, ghostly movement. It slid across the screen, opened the Start menu, and opened the browser. Arthur felt a chill run down his spine, but he trusted authority. He sat silently, watching.
Vikram, thousands of miles away, was now in the driver’s seat. He opened the bank website. He asked Arthur to log in.
Cybercriminals love remote desktop tools. A common attack vector is to name a Trojan or Remote Access Trojan (RAT) after a legitimate program. If a hacker sends you anydesk542exe via email or a pop-up chat window, it could be:
Warning Signs of Malware: