Watch Out for Trojans
October 3, 2020
Here is an interesting little write-up on a specific type of malware. Predict gives us, “What You Need to Know About Trojan Horse?” Writer Rakesh Elamaran begins by defining the term—a trojan is an app that appears desirable but, once downloaded, turns malicious. Naturally, he observes, simply banning downloads is an impractical solution. Instead, we’re told:
“Because Trojan horses don’t reproduce after they have been installed on a computer, they are much easier to isolate and remove than some other cyber threats. To do this, you should use a Trojan remover, which usually comes bundled with the best antivirus software. If you suspect your computer may be infected, use your antivirus program to check your hard drive for any suspicious files. Some Trojans are not as dangerous as others, which is why your client may suggest quarantining an infected file rather than deleting it. Your antivirus software will then monitor the file closely and inform you if it detects any unusual and/or malicious activity. To ensure optimal safety, you should schedule full weekly scans of your computer and set up automatic definition updates in your antivirus program. Of course, in addition to using the best antivirus software you can prevent Trojan infections by avoiding any suspicious emails, attachments, and links sent to you from unknown addresses. Before typing your data into online forms, look for a padlock symbol in the address bar to make sure that your connection is secure and that all the data you enter is encrypted.”
The post lists some symptoms to watch out for. One is hardware, like a CD tray, that performs a function unprompted. The rest are changes settings not initiated by the user: browser home pages; passwords, usernames, or other login information; and screen savers, backgrounds, or mouse settings. It also specifies the most common actions trojans tend to take, from erasing files to installing a back door, and names a few famous versions that have caused havoc in the past.
Cynthia Murrell, October 3, 2020
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