A Trojan horse is called such because it tricks its target into installing malware. If you remember the Greek mythology story, the Greeks gifted the Trojans a giant and hollow wooden horse during the Trojan War.
They convinced the Trojans that they were withdrawing from the war, and the horse was a present for the goddess of war to enhance the city of Troy’s defenses. Of course, the horse was a loaded weapon. Inside the horse were Greek soldiers waiting to spring into action. Similarly, a Trojan horse malware attack is often disguised as something friendly. Here are some common disguises for Trojan malware:
- Cracked game
- Free program
- Email attachment
- Website with deals
- And more
One of the most prolific Trojan horses of all time was the ILOVEYOU virus. Victims would receive an infected email with a text attachment called ILOVEYOU. Those that opened it activated a virus that would overwrite their files and send itself to their contact lists. It’s estimated that ILOVEYOU caused nearly $9 billion in damages.
Here are some other malwares that can hide behind a Trojan horse attack:
- Worms
- Adware
- Spyware
- Ransomware
- Keyloggers
- Backdoors
- Botnet
How Do You Remove a Trojan Horse?
There are two things you should do if you suspect your system is the target of a Trojan horse attack:
- Act fast: Depending on the nature of the Trojan horse attack, time could be critical. For example, it could corrupt your computer or systems if it’s a destructive virus or worm. Likewise, if it’s carrying a backdoor, a threat actor may gain access to your computer. And if it’s ransomware, your entire organization could be at risk.
- Use the right anti-malware tools: You may not be able to remove a Trojan horse if you’re using basic antivirus software because such technology usually detects malware through known signatures. Remember, 80% of Trojan detection is managed by heuristic analysis.
Heuristic analysis, of course, is a strategy that detects threats by analyzing a program’s structure, its behavior, and other attributes. Sophisticated cybersecurity programs use machine learning and artificial intelligence for heuristic analysis protocols. Fortunately, you can download a Trojan remover free of cost that employs such cutting-edge techniques.
But How Do You Prevent a Trojan Horse?
Even with the best cybersecurity tools on your system, you shouldn’t take a Trojan horse threat lightly. The best way to prevent a Trojan horse attack is to keep your guard up. Since Trojan horses rely on social engineering, you must remain vigilant when browsing the Internet, opening email attachments, downloading software, or using thumb drives. If something seems good to be true, like a free piece of software, it probably is.
Here are a few more tips that may help you stop a Trojan horse attack:
- After downloading advanced antivirus software with anti-malware capabilities, please keep it updated to the latest version.
- Update your operating system and other critical software regularly to close security holes.
- Analyze your applications and remove programs that could be security risks.
- Set long and complex passwords.
- Always stay behind a firewall.
Although Trojan horse threats can be dangerous, you can keep your data secure with the right defense tools and the best browsing habits.
