Trojan Horse – A Wolf in Sheep Clothing
I think it’s safe to assume that practically everyone who owns a computer has, at some point, heard or read about Trojans, a destructive program which at first appears to be nothing apart from an innocent application. Even though Trojan Horses don’t replicate as do viruses, they are, without any doubt, equally destructive. One in particular which can cause sever damage will often present itself as a program intended to remove viruses from a computer while in actuality, once inside your system, it enables viruses to gain access.
Many of those who spend time on the internet may have had an email at some point, alerting them to the latest virus discovered, together with claims that the major corporations such as Microsoft are busy investigating the source. In many cases, these emails can look pretty convincing, given the fact that they’re offering all users a free emergency download of the only effective tool available for this latest threat. Often these emails are even backed up with impressive looking credentials so many people throw cautions to the wind and they download the attachment. What these people don’t realize at this point, is that they’ve just unleashed a nightmare, together with a potential death sentence for their computer.
To be fair, not all Trojans are out to inflict damage once they become activated. To the contrary, many are little more than a simple irritation as they move the icons around on your desktop, or change your wallpaper without you wanting it to change. In fact, with a little humor, one can sometimes even find some Trojans to be amusing. On the other hand though, there are the ones which are out to do business and they’re highly efficient. These can overwrite important data or even delete it entirely, not to mention the fact they can also be responsible for distributing viruses. In addition, some Trojans will also record your browsing activity, log keystrokes and successfully gain access to your passwords and other sensitive information such as credit card numbers and banking details. Most impressively, they can create a backdoor to your computer, thus allowing them to come and go as they please, while remaining undetected.
While following the four steps mentioned below won’t guarantee your safety, they certainly will improve your chances of avoiding a Trojan Horse infection.
1. Stay alert! – Trojans can infiltrate your computer through a variety of ways such as instant messaging or email attachments as well has through sites of a dubious nature. Always practice caution with regards to downloading anything.
2. Regular updates! – These are essential, particularly if you’re using one of Microsoft’s operating systems.
3. Anti-virus software! – Make sure you have a good anti-virus program installed and of course, you need to ensure it is regularly updated.
4. Firewall! – While most home computers already have a firewall installed, if your computer doesn’t, then it’s highly recommended that you install one. Of course having a firewall in place is by no means a guarantee that you won’t come under attack, but it certainly does give you a greater defense system, especially if you’ve also followed the steps mentioned above.
While we all wish things were a little different and that total protection could be guaranteed, unfortunately this is simply not the case. Your best bet is to follow the four basic steps mentioned here, in doing so, you’ll be maximizing your chances of staying trouble free.
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