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Trojans
 
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Opens a NewWindow Article on Trojans in PCAnswers magazine
Opens a NewWindow Article on Trojans by the MicroMart mag
 
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Trojans


On this page...
  • How to tell if you've received a Trojan
  • Preventing Trojans
  • Getting rid of Trojans
   

A Trojan or Trojan Horse is a term derived from classical Greek mythology, when what appeared to be a gift had danger hidden inside it. A computer Trojan is a software program in which harmful or malicious code is contained within another (seemingly harmless) program. When this 'harmless' program executes, the Trojan performs a specific set of actions, in the background and without your knowledge, usually working toward the goal of delivering a browser hijacker, a keylogger or Trojans can allow hackers to open backdoors on your system.



How to tell if you've received a Trojan

Soon after installing a program that you have either...

Downloaded from a website that is not listed in the Yaoogloo recommended download sites.
Installed from a disc given to you by a friend who is not computer savvy.

... you begin to experience the classic symptoms of having spyware on your system, which you can view here. When you tell your friend who gave you the disc about your problems, he says "Thats always happening to me".

Some Trojans such as keyloggers don't display any noticeable symptoms which is why you must regularly scan your PC with an updated anti-spyware program such as Spybot or Windows Defender. This is the only way some trojans can be detected.

PUBLISHED: Mar/2006

UPDATED: Jun/2007
 
GET QUICK INFO ABOUT
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  ADWARE
Programs that are installed on your computer with or without your knowledge, intending to deliver adverts to your desktop. More»
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  BROWSER HIJACKERS
Malware that covertly installs itself onto your system and changes your web browser settings. You aquire a new StartPage or HomePage that seems impossible to get rid of. More»
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  COOKIES
Cookies are small text files that some web sites place in your computer to remind your browser of specific information. For example, they might store your preferences for content so pages can be personalised for you. Have you ever gone back to an online store and found a couple of items that you chose, still at the check out, well that's achieved by a cookie. The vast amount of cookies are designed to enhance your visit to a site. Some sites use session cookies that are deleted when you exit your browser, while others place persistent cookies, which stay on your hard drive for long periods. All good sites outline their policy on cookies, usually within their privacy statement.
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  DIALERS
Malware that covertly installs itself onto your system and changes your internet dial-up settings to a Premium Rate number. You may not discover the breach until you query your excessive phone bill. Dialers are NOT a problem if you have a broadband connection.
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  FIREWALLS
Designed to prevent unauthorised access to or from a computer or a network. Usually software based but can be hardware based within a network router or a Broadband modem. More»
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  HACKERS
Users that spend time attempting to breach online security systems. Some do it just for the devilment whilst others have pure criminal intent. A Firewall helps to stop Hackers entering your system when you are online.
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  KEYLOGGERS
Malware that captures all keystrokes made by you and monitors for your bank and card details. It usually has the ability to transmit the captured information to interested parties either via a network connection or email. Your personal data is then used in fraudulent activity. More»
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  MALWARE
A generic term becoming popular to describe any form of malicious software. Sometimes referred to as rogue programs, they're the bad side of Spyware. More»
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  ONLINE SECURITY
A term that covers all the issues on this list. Whether it's the theft of your personal details, virus riddled emails or invading your privacy.
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  PHISHING
Pronounced 'fishing'. Not Spyware or a Virus but a type of scam. It's when fraudsters attempt to obtain your personal information, usually your bank details by duping you into entering your details into either a dummy web site, replying to a false email or even by a phone call to your home. The sites and emails are very convincing and appear genuine, even to the trained eye but give themselves away by the very nature of what they are requesting you to do.
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  POP-UPs
A new browser window that appears on top of your current window, smaller than normal and containing either information or an advert. You really need to take the time to know how useful and how dangerous they can be. More»
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  RATs
Remote Access Trojans. See Trojans below.
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  SPYWARE
A generic term for programs that are installed on your computer without your knowledge with the intent of gathering information about you, whether for commercial or criminal reasons. More»
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  TROJANS
Also known as Trojan Horses or RATs (Remote Access Trojans) it's a way of delivering Spyware onto your system. The malicious code is hidden within a seemingly harmless program. Trojans are often used to infect you with Keyloggers or Dialers. A favourite with Hackers to allow them to open a backdoor to your system. See more on this page.
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  VIRUSES
A small program designed to make copies of itself over and over again. The effects of a virus can range from harmless messages to the destruction of data and can be exucuted at any given time and date. More»
 
Click to Reveal/Hide data!  WORMS
Very similar to viruses in their replication but exploit a users email system to send themselves around the world.
 
 
 
 



Preventing Trojans

If you never install a program on your PC that's from a dubious source, you'll never get a Trojan. But it's like that 9v battery... you know one day you're going to put your tongue on the pins.

Never let the threat of Trojans stop you experimenting, just scan your system regularly and don't re-install that suspicious program... if it's genuine you'll find it on reputable download sites.



Getting rid of Trojans

Simple, regularly run updated anti-spyware and anti-virus programs.



More information

You'll find more in-depth information about trojans on Wikipedia.


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