Trojans are malicious software programs that gain unauthorized access to the data stored in the system. The data may be of sale value or highly confidential or critical for the user or useful for some other criminal activity. Some Trojans do silly things like changing the desktop background, adding abusive desktop icons, making the internet connectivity to slow down and reducing the system speed.
These Trojans are less harmful than the Trojans that delete system files, destroy all the data stored in the hard drive and giving the system access to some criminals. The criminals use the system information for material benefits. Trojan horses are used for criminal activities like stealing the bank account, forgery of data and documents, software theft, credit card frauds, cyberstalking, keystroke logging, viewing the victim’s screen, identity theft etc. Hackers can scan computers across a network to find out the infected computer containing a Trojan horse.
Types of Trojan Horses
There are wide variety of Trojans that pose a great threat to computer users. Some of them are discusses below.
- FTP Trojan assists the criminal to establish control over the computer through the system’s File Transfer Protocol.
- Destructive Trojan deletes the count of the infected system’s hardware. It is very much similar to a computer virus.
- Proxy Trojan allows the attacker to use the infected computer for performing all criminal activities and use it as a source to spread all types of malicious software.
- Subseven Trojan gets installed in the system via email attachment. Once it is installed, it displays a customized message that diverts the user’s attention to some other activity.
- URLZone is a Trojan pack that allows the attacker to target any bank he wants and steal money.
- Security Software Disabler Trojan deletes the security software of the system, without the owner’s knowledge.
- Data Sending Trojan steals the secret pin numbers, passwords, bank details and other such critical information of the user. It directs those details to the attacker.
- Remote Access Trojan is attached to some programs that are run frequently by the user. It allows the criminal to gain complete control over the victim’s system.
- There exists a Trojan that acts as an anti virus software and one can download it for free. Once it is downloaded, it spreads viruses into the system instead of removing them.
- The latest version of a Trojan horse is called ‘road apple’. It is uploaded in a CD, pen drive or hard disk and kept in a public place like shopping malls, schools, hospitals or temples. In a curiosity to find out the contents of the disk or to hand over the disk to the owner, the victims take it home and insert it in to their system. The Trojans in the disk attacks the system.
Though the number of Trojans varies in intention and effect, the only way to get rid of them is by using anti-virus software or anti-trojan software.
Tips to Identify and Destroy the Trojans
There are a number ways to identify and destroy the dangerous Trojan horses. It is advisable to be aware of the ways to identify the Trojans and take the necessary steps to avoid its infection.
- Visit TrojanScan.com where one can scan the computer for free and get to know whether the system has a Trojan.
- Have anti virus software installed in the system and keep it updated.
- Make sure that the anti-virus software has the capability to scan emails, files and other software downloads.
- Don’t forget to run full disk scans from time to time.
- Firewall along with good anti-virus software will prove effective against Trojans.
The domestic and business users of computers must have enough knowledge about the Trojans and use appropriate anti-virus software to stay away from them.
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