What is a Trojan horse?

A Trojan horse, or Trojan, is a type of malicious code or software that appears legitimate but can take control of your computer. Its purpose is to damage, disrupt, steal, or otherwise cause harm to your data or network.

A Trojan is also known as a Trojan or a Trojan horse virus, but that is inaccurate. Viruses can execute and duplicate themselves. A Trojan cannot. A user has to execute Trojans deliberately.

How does a Trojan horse virus work?

A Trojan virus spreads through legitimate-looking emails and files attached to spammed emails, aiming to reach as many people's inboxes as possible. The Trojan server will install and operate automatically when the infected device is turned on after the email is opened and the malicious attachment is downloaded.

Social engineering methods, which cyber thieves employ to coax people into installing a malicious program, may potentially infect devices with a Trojan.

For example, A user might receive an email from someone they know that includes an attachment that looks like it is in it. That attachment contains a malicious device. Hackers can steal data that users often will not know anything about. A computer may continue to work normally without signs of infection.

How to recognize a Trojan virus in cyber security?

A Trojan can often remain on a device for months without the username that it is infected with. However, there are signs of presence, including computer settings suddenly changing, a loss and computer performance or unusual activities. The best way to recognise trojan is if you search for a device used in Trojan Scanner or Malware Removal Software.

How to protect yourself from a Trojan virus?

Trojan horses can typically monitor the device for months or even years, as mentioned earlier. Some of the indicators of infections are as follows.

Poor device performance

If a computer or portable device runs slowly or crashes more frequently than usual, it may be a signup and detects Trojan Malware or another malicious program.

Strange device behavior

This may involve executing programs without user intervention. The number of spam messages and pop-ups on the gadget can also indicate a Trojan attack.

You can use this checklist to protect yourself from trojans:

• Think before you open attachments from emails. Check the sender and the text, and consider whether the extension needs to be opened.
• Always keep your mobile and stationary systems up to date. Install security updates regularly for the operating system and the installed programs.
• Do not allow macros in Word and Excel.
• Do not click on links without thinking. There is also the possibility of a drive-by infection. This is an unnoticed installation of malware when visiting bogus websites, which ensures that the malware is downloaded onto the home system in the background.
• Avoid downloading programs from unsafe sources. Avoid installing apps not offered in the Google Play Store or the Apple Store on mobile devices.
• Always display all file extensions. This will tell you if a supposed image – usually with a jpg extension – is backed by an executable file with a .exe extension.
• As an additional security measure, use two-factor authentication via a mobile app and strong passwords, or ideally, a password manager.
• Make regular backups of your data. Not only on cloud services but also a physical data carrier, such as a mobile SSD or HDD hard drive with a USB connection.

11 types of Trojan horse viruses

Backdoor Trojans

They are one of the most basic yet potentially hazardous varieties of Trojans. As gateways, they may either load malware onto your system or expose your computer to assault.

Botnets are frequently set up via a backdoor. Without your awareness, your computer joins a zombie network used for assaults. Backdoors can also run programs and commands on your device or monitor your online activity.

Exploit

Exploits are programs that contain data or code that exploits a vulnerability in a computer application.

Rootkit

Rootkits are programs meant to hide specific items or actions in your system. Their primary goal is frequently to prevent harmful programs from being noticed and lengthen the time they may operate on an infected machine.

Trojans that drop/download files

The Emotet virus, which has since been rendered harmless but, unlike a backdoor Trojan, cannot execute any code itself, is one of the most well-known dropper Trojans. Instead, it spreads other infections, such as the banking Trojan Trickbot and the ransomware Ryuk.

Banking Trojan

Banking Trojans are among the most common Trojans. Given the growing use of online banking and the negligence of some users, it is no surprise that they offer a viable means for attackers to obtain funds rapidly. Their purpose is to gain bank account login credentials.

DDoS malware

DDoS attacks on websites continue to plague the internet. In these assaults, a server or network is bombarded with requests, often carried out via a botnet. Amazon, for example, thwarted a record-breaking attack on its systems in mid-June 2020.

For more than three days, Amazon's online services were targeted with a data flow of 2.3 gigabytes per second. To obtain that level of computational power, a massive botnet is required.

Antivirus forgery Trojans

Antivirus forgery Trojans are very cunning. Instead of safeguarding, they cause major problems for every gadget. With supposed virus discoveries, they want to frighten unwary consumers and urge them to pay the price for adequate protection.

Trojan-GameThief

This sort of software takes online gamers' user account information.

Trojan-IM (instant messaging)

Trojan-IM malware steals login information and passwords for instant messaging services like ICQ, MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Pager, Skype, and others. Although some may claim these messengers are no longer in use, even new communication services are vulnerable to Trojans. Trojans might potentially attack Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal.

Trojan ransom

This sort of Trojan can alter data on your computer, causing it to malfunction or preventing you from accessing particular files. After you have paid the ransom, the thief will only restore your computer's performance or unblock your data.

SMS worms

SMS Trojans, such as the Android virus Faketoken, may appear as relics from another century, yet they are still active and constitute a serious threat. They can operate in various ways. Faketoken, for example, sends bulk SMS messages to costly overseas lines while masquerading as a typical SMS app in the system.