Malware threats are becoming more complex and dangerous. Among these types of malware, Trojans (also known as Trojan horses) are one of the most common and dangerous. Let’s learn in detail about the trojan virus through the following article.

What are Trojans?

A Trojan (also known as a Trojan horse) is a type of malware designed to trick users by hiding as useful or harmless software. When installed and run by users, Trojans often perform harmful actions without the user’s knowledge. Trojans are often distributed via phishing emails, malicious websites or fake software.

How does a Trojan get into your system?

Trojans are one of the most dangerous types of malware, and the way it gets into your system can be very sophisticated and sneaky. Trojans enter your system in a variety of ways, including:

Phishing emails

One of the common ways Trojans are distributed is through phishing emails. Attackers often send fake emails from trusted organizations or individuals, with emotional or manipulative messages such as financial transaction announcements, account updates, or attractive promotions emails often contain malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, download and install Trojans onto your system.

Malicious website

Trojans can also be distributed through malicious websites or websites infected with malware. When you visit these websites or download files from them, Trojans may automatically download and install onto your system without your approval.

Counterfeit software

Trojans are often hidden under the guise of fake software or fake software updates. When you install these software or click on fake update notifications, the Trojan gets installed and starts working on your system.

USB Port or Portable Storage Device

Trojans can also spread through removable storage devices such as USB or external hard drives. When you connect these devices to your system, the Trojan file can automatically copy and spread to your system.

How do Trojans affect individuals and businesses?

Trojans are one of the most dangerous types of malware in today’s digital world, and its impact is not only limited to individuals but also severely affects organizations and businesses.

Impact on individuals

Trojans can cause loss of important personal data of individuals through deletion or encryption of files on their system. For example, a Trojan can encrypt photo, video or personal document files on the user’s computer and demand a ransom for decryption.

Trojans can also collect users’ personal information without their knowledge. For example, a Trojan Spy could record a user’s keystrokes or bank account details and send that information back to the attacker.

In addition, Trojan Backdoor allows attackers to remotely control the victim’s computer. This can lead to complete loss of control over the computer and serious compromise of the user’s personal information.

Impact on businesses

Trojans can cause the loss of important data for businesses by encrypting or deleting files on their systems. This can cause major disruptions in business operations and negligible financial loss.

A Ransom Trojan can encrypt business data and demand a large ransom to decrypt it. Without payment, businesses can lose important data and can also cause major damage to their reputation and credibility.
Trojan Backdoor can open a backdoor for attackers to enter a business’s system, allowing them to remotely control and perform malicious actions. This can lead to cybersecurity risks and loss of important business data.

Real-life example of the impact of Trojans: In 2017, pharmaceutical corporation Merck & Co. was attacked by a ransomware Trojan called NotPetya. This Trojan encrypted data on Merck’s computer system, causing the corporation to stop operating for a period of time. Merck estimates that this attack cost them more than $800 million.

How to recognize and prevent Trojans

Trojans are one of the most dangerous types of malware. Therefore, identifying and preventing them is extremely important to protect your system from attacks and unwanted data loss.

How to recognize Trojans

Here are some signs that your system may be infected with a Trojan:

• System performance: The computer runs slower than usual, programs frequently crash, or it could be that the computer is using an unusually high amount of CPU or RAM.
• Unusual activity: You may notice unusual activity such as files or programs appearing that you are not aware of; lost data or corrupted files; network performance is slow or unstable; pop-up windows or ads appear unexpectedly…
• Visual cues: Strange symbols on screen; mouse pointer moves automatically; strange noise from hard drive.
• Warnings from security software: Antivirus or other security software warns about Trojans.

How to prevent Trojans

Here are some effective ways to prevent Trojans that you should refer to:

• Keep software up to date: Make sure your system is up to date with the latest patches and software updates from the manufacturer. Regularly updating software helps protect your system from security holes that Trojans can use to penetrate.
• Use a firewall: Install and configure a strong firewall to prevent intrusion from attackers and malware, including Trojans. Firewalls help control and monitor network traffic and prevent unwanted connections.
• Regular data backups: Performing regular data backups and storing it in a safe place is an important measure to ensure that you can recover data in the event of a Trojan or malware attack. other attacks and causes data loss.
• Limit access rights: To prevent trojan viruses, limit access rights for users and applications on your system to minimize the risk from Trojans that can take advantage of high access rights to perform actions harm.

Trojans are a dangerous threat to your system, but by being aware and applying effective prevention measures, you can protect your network information system from attack and data loss. Always remain vigilant and take appropriate security measures to keep your systems safe and secure.