A Trojan horse or Trojan is a form of malicious code or software that looks original but takes control of computer. A Trojan is designed to steal, damage or harm the computer data or network. Trojan behave like genuine application or file to trick users. It deceives user into executing or installing malware onto the device. Once installed it performs the action which it was designed for.
Sometimes a Trojan is also called Trojan virus or Trojan horse virus but it is not appropriate because virus can execute and copy itself but Trojan cannot. Whether you call it a virus or malware, it is important to known how Trojan works and how to keep your device safe from Trojans.
Suppose you receive an email from known people and click on the attachment but you have been fooled. That email was from cyber criminals and attachment you clicked and opened installs malware on your system. When you execute that file (program), malware can spread throughout the device and can corrupt all the files. The most popular trick for spreading Trojan is through email attachment.
Trojan horse can also attack smart-phones and tablets. These infections help hackers for redirecting traffic from Wi-Fi connected devices.
Types of Trojan:
These type of Trojan give attacker backdoor control and give permission to access it. User data can be downloaded by third party.
DDoS Attack Trojan:
This DDos attack Trojan takes down the computer network by huge traffic that’s comes from the infected device.
This Trojan attacks already infected devices. It can install and download other malicious applications.
Fake Antivirus Trojan:
Fake antivirus Trojan acts like antivirus software, but demand money from user to remove threats.
This Ransom Trojan encrypts user data and demands ransom for decryption keys.
Remote Access Trojan:
This type of Trojan can give full access over user device via remort network connection. They can activate device’s camera remotely for spying purpose.
These type of Trojan target user’s financial account details. It can steal user’s account information like card details when user performs any online transactions.
Also Read: How to Spot Fake and Fraudulent Android Apps
Is Trojan horse: Virus or Malware?
A Trojan horse may also be called as Trojan horse virus but it is technically wrong. Computer virus can replicate itself but in case of Trojan it can’t. That’s why cybercriminals use social engineering tricks at end user level for execution of Trojan.
Depending on cybercriminals intent and app program, Trojan can work in many ways - sometime it is behave as standalone malware and sometime serves as tool but act as malware in background of device.
How to identify Trojan?
Trojan horses appear as genuine system files, very hard to find and remove with conventional scanners. Specialized software are required for the removal of Trojan. But it is possible to identify Trojan through unusual activity of a device.
How to Prevent from Trojan?
The easiest way to protect a device from Trojan is by never downloading or opening email attachment from unknown destinations. Delete these type of mail attachments before opening. User should also keep antivirus software up to date.
How to Remove Trojan?
If any Trojan is detected on the system, internet should immediately be disconnected and suspicious file or program should be removed by using genuine antivirus or by reinstalling the Operating System of the device.
Next time when users restart their system, they should press F8 key and select safe mode. Users can remove and delete infected programs from here. Also ensure that all extensions with Trojan program are removed from the computer. Once it is done, you can restart the computer again in the normal start up mode.