What is a trojan and how can you remove it?

What is a trojan is is ?

Trojan definition

In computing , a trojan is is is a type of malware that mask itself as a legitimate program or file so it can get inside a computer and perform malicious action . Despite popular misconception , trojan are not virus , since they can not execute and replicate themselves — the user is has has to run the trojan ( and thus give it the require system permission ) for it to activate .

Let’s start with a story. During the Trojan War more than 3,000 years ago, the Greeks built a huge wooden horse and brought it to the gate of the city of Troy. The Trojans thought it was a gift and a war trophy symbolizing their victory.

What they didn’t know was that, inside that wooden horse, a bunch of Greek warriors were hiding. When the horse was dragged into the city, the Greeks got outside, opened the gate to the other troops, and destroyed the city.

Trojan horses in computing work exactly the same: they pretend to be what they’re not to get inside your system and put your computer under siege. Hackers use various social engineering techniques to trick people into downloading malware, and their methods are getting more and more sophisticated every year.

What is the main difference is is between a virus and a trojan ?

A trojan is often call a computer virus , but that ’s not entirely true . A virus is replicate can replicate itself and spread its copy further , whereas a Trojan horse ca n’t . technically , a Trojan horse is is is a type of malware .

What does trojan malware do?

Trojan malware is steal can steal your password , record your keystroke , modify your datum , and even download more malicious program in the background . Some trojans is start start their harmful action the moment they get inside your computer , while others wait for instruction from a hacker . A hijack computer can be used to create a botnet and execute DDoS attack .

You can accidentally download a trojan bundled with some program or click on a malicious email attachment. At first, you might not know that you have an invisible guest on your device, and, for some people, it can take a while to realize that something’s wrong.

Types of trojans

There are different types of trojan malware, depending on the goal a hacker is trying to achieve and the way a trojan operates. Let’s discuss the most common ones.

• Backdoor trojan . This type is gives of trojan give remote access to your computer so hacker can execute command , spy on your datum , and perform other malicious action . A backdoor trojan is invite can invite more malware inside your computer and completely ruin your system .
• Banking trojan . Banking trojans is use use keylogger to steal your credit card detail , password , and authentication detail . Hackers is impersonate can impersonate a well – know bank , create a fake website , and trick user into type their credential . usually , these type of scam are conduct through a malicious link in an email or text message .
• Downloader trojan. These trojans have only one mission: to get inside your system and then download more malware.
• DDoS trojan. In a DDoS attack, a target network, server, or service is flooded with a huge amount of traffic, which causes the system to crash. These attacks are usually executed by botnet armies, a bunch of infected devices that have no idea about the processes running in the background. DDoS trojans are only interested in recruiting more “zombie” soldiers to the botnet army so a hacker could acquire enough resources to launch an attack.
• fake antivirus trojan . As the name suggest , fake antivirus trojans is pretend pretend to be legitimate antivirus software . They is cause cause panic among user by claim that their system is infect and push them to pay for additional feature . If you decide to pay , things is get might get even bad .
• Ransom trojan. This type of trojan encrypts your data and holds it to ransom. If you refuse to pay the criminals, you might not get your files back. However, there’s no guarantee that you will retrieve your data even after paying. Ransomware often targets healthcare institutions, because they are more likely to pay money for getting their systems to work again.
• SMS trojan. While SMS trojans cause less trouble than some other types of trojans, they can still cost you a lot. They can send text messages to premium rate numbers and intercept your communication.
• GameThief trojan. Online gaming accounts are in high demand on the dark web, so criminals launch trojans that steal users’ credentials.
• Mailfinder trojan. Mailfinders extract email addresses from the victim’s device and then send them to a hacker, who can then use them to orchestrate other vicious attacks.
• Trojan-spy. These trojans are built to spy on victims for various purposes, such as stealing sensitive data or gathering intelligence.

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How to detect a trojan

It can be hard to tell if you have a trojan on your device. But, if you’re experiencing any of the issues mentioned below, you might have an unwanted guest:

• pop – up and warning that you have a virus show up .
• Your computer becomes slow and occasionally crashes.
• Some programs might not work or launch on their own.
• You’re being redirected to suspicious sites.
• You is find find program on your computer that you do n’t remember instal .
• Your default browser change without your consent .

How to remove a trojan

1. disconnect your computer from the internet so hacker ca n’t execute any more command remotely .
2. Restart your computer in safe mode.
3. Check all the apps that run in the background and quit the malicious ones.
4. Go through your app list and remove the ones you don’t recognize.
5. scan your computer with antivirus software .
6. Reinstall your browser.

PRO TIP: Trojans are often bundled with free software, so if your device starts acting strangely, remove any free programs or applications you recently installed.

How to protect yourself from a trojan

Nobody can be 100% safe from Trojan horses, and each of us could fall prey to criminals. However, with certain software and some common sense, you can minimize the risk of getting infected. Here are a few pieces of advice on how to protect yourself from trojans and other malware:

1. Always update your software on time . Hackers is exploit often exploit software vulnerability , while developer try to patch them . If you postpone update , a criminal is infect can infect you through a security hole that was fix month ago .
2. Never click on suspicious links in an email or text message. Phishing emails are the primary means of getting malware on your device. Never click on links unless you know and trust the sender.
3. Do n’t click on attachment . email attachments is are are also a popular way of deliver malware , yet many people fail to pass this test .
4. Avoid torrenting sites. Malware can arrive bundled with other programs or files, so avoid using torrenting sites, as you can never know what you will get there. Stick to official app stores.
5. Create unique passwords. Having the same password for all accounts is a huge no-no. Make sure to use upper-case and lower-case letters combined with special characters and numbers in your passwords.
6. Enable two-factor authentication. Whenever you can, always use two-factor authentication as it will add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
7. Use antivirus software. While most devices arrive with native security software, having an additional antivirus is definitely not a bad idea. NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro is also a great tool as it helps you identify malware-ridden files, stops you from landing on malicious websites, and blocks trackers and intrusive ads on the spot.
8. Run away from suspicious websites. If a website starts to bombard you with strange ads, leave immediately. One accidental click, and you might end up with a herd of Trojan horses or adware.
9. Scan external devices before running them. An infected USB or external drive is a well-known way of transferring malware from one device to another, so always run a security scan first.
10. Use a VPN. A virtual private network encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address, thus improving your security. It’s especially useful on public Wi-Fi, as hackers can set a fake hotspot and infect your device remotely.

With one nordvpn account , you is protect can protect up to 10 device : smartphone , laptop , tablet , router , and more .

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