Trojan Horse….Greek Myth or Computer Nemesis?
We have all heard the term
Trojan Horse, but what exactly is it? A
Trojan Horse is a destructive program that masquerades as a harmless
application. Unlike viruses, Trojan Horses
do not replicate themselves, but they can be just as destructive. One of the
most dangerous examples of a Trojan
is a program that promises to rid your computer
of viruses
but instead introduces viruses into your computer.
The Trojan can be tricky. Who
hasn’t been online and had an advertisement pop up claiming to be able to rid
your computer of some nasty virus? Or,
even more frightening, you receive an email that claims to be alerting you to a
new virus that can threaten your computer. The sender promises to quickly
eradicate, or protect, your computer from viruses if you simply download their
“free”, attached software into your computer. You may be skeptical but the
software looks legitimate and the company sounds reputable. You proceed to take them up on their offer
and download the software. In doing so,
you have just potentially exposed yourself to a massive headache and your computer
to a laundry list of ailments.
When a Trojan is activated,
numerous things can happen. Some
Trojans are more annoying than malicious.
Some of the less annoying Trojans may choose to change your desktop
settings or add silly desktop icons.
The more serious Trojans can erase or overwrite data on your computer, corrupt
files, spread other malware such as viruses, spy on the user of a computer and secretly
report data like browsing habits to other people, log keystrokes to steal
information such as passwords and credit card numbers, phish for bank account
details (which can be used for criminal activities), and even install a
backdoor into your computer system so that they can come and go as they please.
To increase your odds of not
encountering a Trojan, follow these guidelines.
1.
Remain diligent
Trojans can infect your computer through rogue websites, instant messaging, and
emails with attachments. Do not
download anything into your computer unless you are 100 percent sure of its
sender or source.
2.
Ensure that your
operating system is always up-to-date.
If you are running a Microsoft Windows operating system, this is
essential.
3.
Install reliable
anti-virus software. It is also
important that you download any updates frequently to catch all new Trojan
Horses, viruses, and worms. Be sure
that the anti-virus program that you choose can also scan e-mails and files
downloaded through the internet.
4.
Consider installing a
firewall. A firewall is a system that
prevents unauthorized use and access to your computer. A firewall is not going to eliminate your
computer virus problems, but when used in conjunction with regular operating
system updates and reliable anti-virus software, it can provide additional
security and protection for your computer.
Nothing can guarantee the
security of your computer 100 percent. However, you can continue to improve
your computer's security and decrease the possibility of infection by
consistently following these guidelines.
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