A Trojan is a type of spyware that is often disguised as harmless software. Trojans can be used by hackers trying to gain access to user’s systems. Users are typically trapped by some form of social engineering into loading and executing Trojans on their devices. Once activated, Trojans can enable hackers to spy on a victim, steal their private information and gain backdoor access to their device.
The word “Trojan” originates from the ancient Greek story about the Trojan horse, which was presented as a gift to the Trojans who were later killed by the Greeks hiding inside. A Trojan hides within seemingly harmless programs or tries to trick users into downloading it. The name was coined in a 1974 USAF report which speculated on imaginary ways computers could be compromised. A Trojan spreads by pretending to be helpful software or content while covertly containing malicious instructions. It is more practical to think of a Trojan as an umbrella term for malware delivery that cyber thieves use for various threats.
A Trojan must be executed by its victims to do its work. Trojan can infect devices in a variety of ways, such as:
A user falls victim to an attack by opening an infected email attachment or clicking on a link to a malicious site.
A user visits a malicious site and experiences a drive-by download pretending to be useful software.
A user downloads software whose publisher is unknown from unreliable access.
Hackers install a Trojan by exploiting a software vulnerability or through unauthorized access.
Trojans are not problems only for laptops and desktop computers. They can impact your mobile devices, including tablets and cell phones. Usually, a Trojan comes attached to what looks like a legitimate program. In fact, it is a fake version of the application that is loaded up with malware. Hackers will usually place them on unofficial and pirated app markets for unsuspecting users to download. These applications can also steal private information from devices and generate revenue by sending premium SMS texts.