Trojan, a digital virus, pose a threat to individuals and companies in a similar manner to the infamous wooden horse of mythology. Trojans infiltrate computers, steal data, and disrupt systems in a covert manner. This article explains how Trojans gain entry, the damage they can cause, and how to prevent or remediate them.
How do Trojans work?
Phishing emails may contain Trojans as attachments that appear to come from a trusted source. The Trojan is disguised with a misleading file name, often having a double extension such as “suesse-katze.mp4.exe”. The Trojan may look like a legitimate document and quietly install the unwanted program if it is well-written. The user may think they are opening a media player to view a cute cat video, but the unwanted program is being installed in the background without their knowledge.
Trojans can be present in shareware and freeware downloaded from the internet. It’s important to only download software from trustworthy sources, although not all of it is a Trojan. Scammers often use pop-up pages to spread Trojans by falsely informing the user that their computer is infected with malware and suggesting that they download antivirus software. However, the supposed antivirus program is actually a Trojan that downloads additional malware.
A Trojan only becomes active after the user launches the program. Once started, it can install additional programs on the computer. Trojans can have different purposes, depending on the attacker’s goals. It functions as a delivery mechanism for its associated payload.
How do You Recognize Trojans?
Trojans are challenging to detect and remove using typical antivirus software, as they often mimic legitimate system files. Undetected Trojans can cause significant harm to the operating system and its developers. Some signs of a Trojan infection include:
Signs of a Trojan Infection:
- Unusual pop-ups and messages.
- Slow system performance, as the Trojan uses up computer resources.
- Interrupted internet connection, due to the Trojan connecting to URLs or starting new sessions, which decreases bandwidth and affects internet use.
- Redirection to fake or fraudulent websites, as the Trojan lures users to visit them.
- Missing files, as the Trojan can destroy, encrypt, or relocate computer files.
- Deactivated firewall and antivirus software, leaving the computer vulnerable to online attacks as the Trojan disables these protective measures.
Also read: Why Should You Back Up Your Data Regularly?
How can Trojans be Removed?
A Trojan virus may be present on your computer if you notice strange behavior after installing new software. To remove it, the infected software must be uninstalled. It’s important to also search the computer’s registry database for any suspicious software, as some Trojans do not appear in the list of installed programs. If you find an application with an unusual name, its entry must be deleted. Keep in mind that the Trojan may have installed additional software, which must also be removed properly.
Even after the harmful software is removed and its registry key destroyed, a Trojan or other malware may still be present on the system. A comprehensive antivirus scan should be performed to identify any remaining threats. The scan will typically recognize the dangers and inform the user of the type of virus they are dealing with, as well as provide steps for complete removal of the Trojan and any accompanying malware.
If the antivirus program fails to remove the malware or if the presence of a Trojan or other malware is suspected but not confirmed, a full system restore may be necessary. To restore the system, choose a date prior to the installation of the Trojan. Before starting the restoration process, be sure to backup all important files to an offline location such as an external hard drive. If none of these steps are successful and the infection persists, the user may have to resort to deleting the entire hard disk. This process will erase all software, including the malicious one.
How do You Protect Yourself Against Trojans?
1. Install Antivirus Software
Antivirus software protects devices from harmful software that may harm the system by scanning for and eliminating Trojans. It also provides automatic updates to ensure ongoing protection against newly emerging malware.
The installation of antivirus software is just as important as regularly updating it, as this helps prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated systems to gain access to computers.
Regularly creating backups is recommended in case of data loss, as this helps minimize damage and prevents extortion.
Scammers try to trick consumers into opening emails or clicking on links that appear to be from trustworthy businesses or sources. The user may be prompted to download something or provide personal information on a fake website after clicking the link. So, don’t click on it.
The Bottom Line
In this article, we covered the ways to detect Trojans, methods to remove them, and how to secure your devices from infection. This article serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to become informed about Trojans and how to address them.
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