A Trojan horse program can be deceptive like the Greek story where they gave a wooden horse as a peace offering but it was filled with soldiers who attacked. A Trojan horse can damage or destroy files and may appear as a useful application. Antivirus software and a firewall can help protect against them.
Named for a giant horse that was supposed to be a gift but was filled with the Greek military, a Trojan horse program can be just as deceptive. The story goes that the Greeks gave the Trojans a huge wooden horse as a peace offering. The citizens of Troy accepted the gift, rode the horse inside the city, threw a victory feast, then went to bed. Only when the Greek soldiers set fire to the city did they realize they had been taken. A Trojan horse that affects computers can also hold nasty surprises. It can damage, delete or destroy your important files.
A Trojan horse can actually appear to be a useful application, which is why so many unsuspecting people download it. It may be disguised as a program designed to rid your computer of viruses, but it may actually be used to infect your system. While the terms “virus” and “Trojan horse” are often used interchangeably, they are actually quite different. A virus replicates itself, but a Trojan horse doesn’t.
Once activated, a Trojan horse can access files, folders or the entire system. Commonly, Trojans create a “backdoor” or “trap door”, which can be used to send your personal information to another location. To protect your system, comprehensive antivirus software is a good first step. Choose a program that scans for Trojan horses, worms, and viruses, and make sure it frequently updates the definitions for each. Also, make sure your antivirus scans email and issues a warning or automatically deletes any message that contains suspicious code, even if the code isn’t specific malware that the program has already identified.
The most effective option to protect yourself from a Trojan horse may be to install a firewall if you don’t already have one. A good software firewall is usually the best type for a personal computer. It can be configured to keep intruders out while also preventing the system or programs within the system from sending personal or confidential data.
If you are not sure, try a trial version of a firewall or download a free one to check it out. Run it for a day and examine the log file. You will be shocked at the amount of information flowing in and out of your computer in twenty four hours. You may even get a Trojan or other malware that has gotten past your antivirus, as they are often difficult to detect.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
