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Scams
Trojan Horse….Greek Myth or Computer
Attack?
Topic of the Week
We
have all heard the term Trojan Horse, but what exactly is it?
A Trojan Horse is a destructive
program that masquerades as a harmless
application. Unlike
viruses,
Trojan Horses
do not replicate themselves, but they can be just as destructive.
One of the most dangerous examples of a
program that promises to rid your
computer of
viruses but
instead introduces viruses into your computer.
The Trojan can be tricky. Who hasn’t been
online and had an advertisement pop up claiming to be able to rid
your computer of some nasty virus?
Or, even more frightening, you receive
an email that claims to be alerting you to a new virus that can
threaten your computer. The sender promises to quickly eradicate, or
protect, your computer from viruses if you simply download their
“free”, attached software into your computer. You may be skeptical
but the software looks legitimate and the company sounds reputable.
You proceed to take them up on their
offer and download the software.
In doing so, you have just potentially
exposed yourself to a massive headache and your computer to a
laundry list of ailments.
When a Trojan is
activated, numerous things can happen.
Some Trojans are more annoying than
malicious.
Some of the less annoying Trojans may
choose to change your desktop settings or add silly desktop icons.
The more serious Trojans can erase or
overwrite data on your computer, corrupt files, spread other malware
such as viruses, spy on the user of a computer and secretly report
data like browsing habits to other people, log keystrokes to steal
information such as passwords and credit card numbers, phish for
bank account details (which can be used for criminal activities),
and even install a backdoor into your computer system so that they
can come and go as they please.
To increase your odds of
not encountering a Trojan, follow these guidelines.
-
Remain diligent -Trojans can infect your computer through rogue websites, instant messaging, and emails with attachments. Do not download anything into your computer unless you are 100 percent sure of its sender or source.
-
-
. It is also important that you download any updates frequently to catch all new Trojan Horses, viruses, and worms. Be sure that the anti-virus program that you choose can also scan e-mails and files downloaded through the internet.
Where can I get the latest Anti-Virus software?
-
Consider installing a firewall. A firewall is a system that prevents unauthorized use and access to your computer. A firewall is not going to eliminate your computer virus problems, but when used in conjunction with regular operating system updates and reliable anti-virus software, it can provide additional security and protection for your computer.
Nothing can guarantee the security of your computer 100 percent. However, you can continue to improve your computer's security and decrease the possibility of infection by consistently following these guidelines.
Learn More about Internet Scams
Visit these links to learn more about internet scams.
Don't forget to checkout the Archives to see what you missed!
| US Federal Trade Commission facts for consumers on a range of internet fraud topics | |
| MillerSmiles |
UK organization that tracks the latest phishing and internet fraud attacks and provides helpful resources |
