Why is a trojan horse not a virus

A "zombifying" trojan can even make it impossible for you to use your computer at all while the hacker is using it to attack a network. Trojans install software on your computer that can be used to harvest your information or use your computer to attack others.

You may not see these programs in your Start menu or Apps folder, but sometimes you'll see them running in the background. Have you noticed a lot of pop-up windows or spam? Trojans may install programs that cause pop-up windows to appear on the screen, sometimes asking for login or banking information. If you see a pop-up asking you for personal information, don't enter that information unless you specifically visited the website or opened the app first.

Both Windows and macOS come with built-in security software designed to keep you safe from trojan horses and other threats. However, if your computer and antivirus software are not up to date, newer trojans may creep through.

If you're using Windows 10, Windows Security is always running in the background, doing frequent scans for trojan horses and other threats. Install any updates that are found. If you have a Mac, virus and malware protection is built in to your computer already.

Scan your computer. If your software detects a trojan horse, it will let you know, and then help you remove it from your computer. Windows Security is great at tracking down and removing most threats on its own, but for a deeper scan, you can run an offline scan. One of the most well-known available is Malwarebytes for Mac , and you can use it to scan your Mac for free.

Once installed, open Malwarebytes and click Scan Now to start the scan. There are many other antimalware programs you can use on both Windows and macOS. Malwarebytes , Avast , and AVG are all available for both operating systems, and they all have free scanning options. Each of these programs also offers you the option to pay for an upgrade that will always run in the background so it can catch trojan horses and other malware in real-time.

Protect yourself from trojan horses in the future. Whether your antivirus scanner found a trojan horse or not, you'll still want to do everything you can to make sure you stay protected from threats in the future. Keep all of your software up to date. When Windows or macOS prompts you to update to the latest version of the operating system, do it as soon as possible. While these update notices don't always pop up at the most convenient times, they are timely—updates usually contain security updates that fix issues that hackers can exploit.

The longer you wait, the more vulnerable you are to attack. Never install applications from sources you don't know and trust. Although it's not fail-proof, you'll have a better chance of avoiding trojan horses if you stick to installing software through the App Store app on your Mac or the Microsoft Store app on your PC. Never open attachments in email messages unless you're expecting the attachment. Trojan horses may infect your computer through a program file sent by someone else—even if the email message is from someone you trust, there's a chance a virus infected their computer and is now trying to install trojan horses on other peoples' computers.

Avoid visiting risky websites. Spyware is less harmful than Trojan horse. Trojan horse is more harmful than spyware. Trojanized apps on Android smartphones As with computers, the Trojan presents itself as a legitimate program, although it's actually a fake version of the app full of malware. Such Trojans usually lurk on unofficial and pirate app markets, enticing users to download them. A Trojan horse or Trojan is one of the most common and dangerous types of threats that can infect your computer or mobile device.

Trojans are usually disguised as benign or useful software that you download from the Internet, but they actually carry malicious code designed to do harm—thus their name. Spyware Definition Spyware is loosely defined as malicious software designed to enter your computer device , gather data about you, and forward it to a third-party without your consent. A Trojan virus, similarly, can be a good way to get behind an otherwise tight set of defenses.

The Trojan horse appeared to be a legitimate gift. In a similar vein, a Trojan virus looks like legitimate software. How Do Trojans Work? Most Common Types of Trojan Malware. The most common types of Trojan used include: Backdoor Trojan : A backdoor Trojan enables an attacker to gain remote access to a computer and take control of it using a backdoor. This enables the malicious actor to do whatever they want on the device, such as deleting files, rebooting the computer, stealing data, or uploading malware.

A backdoor Trojan is frequently used to create a botnet through a network of zombie computers. It attempts to steal account data for credit and debit cards, e-payment systems, and online banking systems. Distributed denial-of-service DDoS Trojan : These Trojan programs carry out attacks that overload a network with traffic.

It will send multiple requests from a computer or a group of computers to overwhelm a target web address and cause a denial of service. Downloader Trojan : A downloader Trojan targets a computer that has already been infected by malware, then downloads and installs more malicious programs to it.

This could be additional Trojans or other types of malware like adware. Exploit Trojan : An exploit malware program contains code or data that takes advantage of specific vulnerabilities within an application or computer system.

The cyber criminal will target users through a method like a phishing attack, then use the code in the program to exploit a known vulnerability. Fake antivirus Trojan : A fake antivirus Trojan simulates the actions of legitimate antivirus software. The Trojan is designed to detect and remove threats like a regular antivirus program, then extort money from users for removing threats that may be nonexistent.

Game-thief Trojan : A game-thief Trojan is specifically designed to steal user account information from people playing online games.

Infostealer Trojan : This malware can either be used to install Trojans or prevent the user from detecting the existence of a malicious program. The components of infostealer Trojans can make it difficult for antivirus systems to discover them in scans. Texts to premium-rate numbers can drive up your phone costs. This Trojan takes aim at your financial accounts.

That includes banking, credit card, and bill pay data. Trojan malware attacks can inflict a lot of damage. At the same time, Trojans continue to evolve. Here are three examples. They can also impact your mobile devices, including cell phones and tablets. In general, a Trojan comes attached to what looks like a legitimate program. In reality, it is a fake version of the app, loaded up with malware.

Cybercriminals will usually place them on unofficial and pirate app markets for unsuspecting users to download. In addition, these apps can also steal information from your device, and generate revenue by sending premium SMS texts. One form of Trojan malware has targeted Android devices specifically.

The result? Cybercriminals could redirect traffic on the Wi-Fi-connected devices and use it to commit various crimes. Trojans take their name from the hollow wooden horse that the Greeks hid inside of during the Trojan War. The Trojans, thinking the horse was a gift, opened their walled city to accept it, allowing the Greeks to come out of hiding at night to attack the sleeping Trojans.

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Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. No one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime. Not all products, services and features are available on all devices or operating systems.

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