A Trojan horse is a type of malware that disguises itself as a legitimate program or software). It is named after the wooden horse used by the Greeks during the Trojan War to enter the city of Troy and win the war. The term "Trojan horse" is used metaphorically to mean any trick or strategy that causes a target to invite a foe into a securely protected place or to deceive by appearance, hiding malevolent intent in an outwardly benign exterior.
Unlike computer viruses and worms, Trojans generally do not attempt to replicate themselves or self-execute). Instead, they require specific and deliberate action from the user to be executed. Once inside the network, attackers can carry out any number of malicious activities, such as damaging files, redirecting internet traffic, monitoring the users activity, stealing sensitive data, or setting up backdoor access points to the system.
Trojan viruses can be delivered through a variety of methods, including social engineering, phishing, or by disguising themselves as legitimate software. They can modify data on a computer, record keyboard strokes, or open the door for further malware that can even take the entire computer hostage.
In summary, a Trojan horse is a type of malware that disguises itself as a legitimate program or software and requires specific and deliberate action from the user to be executed. Once inside the network, attackers can carry out a variety of malicious activities.
