Cybersecurity
Trojan Horse
Definition
A Trojan horse, or Trojan, is a type of malware that is often disguised as legitimate software. Trojans can be employed by cyber-thieves and hackers trying to gain access to users' systems. Users are typically tricked by some form of social engineering into loading and executing Trojans on their systems.
Why It Matters
Trojans are a common way for attackers to gain a foothold in a system. Once executed, they can perform a variety of malicious actions, such as installing a backdoor, stealing data, or installing other malware.
Contextual Example
A user downloads a "free game" from a suspicious website. The game might actually work, but hidden inside is a Trojan that installs a keylogger to steal the user's passwords.
Common Misunderstandings
- Unlike viruses and worms, Trojans do not replicate themselves.
- The name comes from the ancient Greek story of the wooden horse used to invade the city of Troy.