Trojan Horse Computer Virus

We’ve all learned about the threats to our computer systems caused by things like spam, spyware, and Trojan horses. But what is a Trojan horse computer virus, exactly? Is it different from a regular computer virus? Does that make it more dangerous, or less? Is there protection available for a Trojan horse computer virus? How exactly do these viruses work? Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Trojan horse computer virus.

What Is a Trojan Horse Computer Virus?

The Trojan horse computer virus gets its name from the classic story of the Trojan War. Unable to penetrate Troy’s defenses, the Greek army came up with a plan in which they pretend to withdraw, leaving behind a giant horse construct as an offering to the goddess Athena. When the Trojans discover the horse, they decide to take it into the city to gain the favor of Athena for themselves. This in fact, was the Greeks’ plan all along, and they were actually hidden inside the horse, and came spilling out to conquer the Trojans once they were safely inside the city walls. Similarly, the Trojan horse computer virus masquerades as something useful, but once it is safely inside your computer, reveals its true malicious purpose.

How Does a Trojan Horse Computer Virus Work?

Like the Greeks, a Trojan horse virus hides inside a useful program that the user might want to download, like a freeware game or an email attachment that appears to be from a trusted source. It uses the safe-looking program to get past the computer’s firewall, then does whatever it was designed to do, whether that means collecting personal information and sending it to an identity thief, shutting down or slowing down your computer, stealing email addresses, or something else.

How Can You Stop a Trojan Horse Computer Virus?

Once the virus has gotten into your computer and been activated, it can be difficult to stop. Some Trojan horses can be easily quarantined and destroyed after it has already started to do its damage, but your best bet for fully ridding yourself of a Trojan horse is to detect it and eliminate it before it starts working, or better yet, before it gets into your system at all. The best way to do this is through the right anti virus software.

Anti Virus Software for Trojan Horses

The right anti virus software is software that knows how to recognize any unwanted intrusion into your system, and can identify files, programs or attachments that contain potentially damaging code. CyberDefender is a great example of this. Their early detection center is specifically designed to identify viruses like Trojan horses and others, as well as spyware, adware, and spam emails that may be “phishing” for your important personal information. CyberDefender can also scan your system for current threats you may not be aware of, then isolate and eliminate them. Now that you are aware of what Trojan horses are, you don’t need to fear them. Just get the right anti virus software and you can download with confidence.