Trojan program: how to defend and remove it

The content of the article

• What is a Trojan?
• Features of Trojans
• Types of Trojans
• What malicious actions do trojans perform
• How to find a trojan on a computer
• Delete Trojan
• Trojan Protection

Sometimes, under the guise of legal software (software), a malicious program enters a computer. Regardless of the user’s actions, it spreads independently, infecting a vulnerable system. The Trojan program is dangerous in that the virus not only destroys information and disrupts the functioning of the computer, but also transfers resources to the attacker.

What is a Trojan?

As is known from ancient Greek mythology, warriors were hiding in a wooden horse, which was given as a gift to the inhabitants of Troy. They opened the city gates at night and let their comrades in. After that, the city fell. In honor of the wooden horse that destroyed Troy, a malicious utility was named. What is a trojan virus? A program with this term was created by people to modify and destroy information stored on a computer, as well as to use other people’s resources for an attacker.

Unlike other worms that spread independently, it is introduced by humans. At its core, a Trojan is not a virus. Its action may not be harmful. An attacker often wants to infiltrate someone else’s computer just to get the necessary information. Trojans have earned a bad reputation due to the use of programs in the installation to get reintroduction into the system.

Features of Trojans

The Trojan Horse virus is a type of spyware. The main feature of Trojans is the disguised collection of confidential information and transmission to a third party. It includes details of bank cards, passwords for payment systems, passport data and other information. The Trojan virus does not spread over the network, does not destroy data, and does not cause a fatal hardware failure. The algorithm of this virus utility is not like the actions of a street bully who destroys everything in its path. Troyan is a saboteur sitting in ambush and waiting in the wings.

Types of Trojans

The Trojan consists of 2 parts: server and client. The exchange of data between them occurs via TCP / IP over any port. The server part is installed on the victim’s working PC, which works unnoticed, and the client part is located at the owner or customer of the malicious utility. For disguise, trojans have names similar to office ones, and their extensions coincide with the popular ones: DOC, GIF, RAR and others. Types of trojan programs are divided depending on the type of actions performed in a computer system:

1. Trojan-Downloader. A bootloader that installs new versions of dangerous utilities on the victim’s PC, including adware.
2. Trojan-dropper. Deactivator of security programs. Used by hackers to block virus detection.
3. Trojan-ransom. Attack on a PC for disruption. The user cannot work on remote access without paying the attacker the required amount of money.
4. Exploit Contains code that could exploit software vulnerabilities on a remote or local computer.
5. Backdoor. Provides fraudsters to remotely control an infected computer system, including downloading, opening, sending, changing files, distributing incorrect information, registering keystrokes, and rebooting. Used for PC, tablet, smartphone.
6. Rootkit Designed to hide the necessary actions or objects in the system. The main goal is to increase the time of unauthorized work.

What malicious actions do trojans perform

Trojans are network monsters. Infection occurs using a USB flash drive or other computer device. The main malicious actions of Trojans are penetrating the owner’s PC, downloading his personal data to his computer, copying files, stealing valuable information, monitoring actions in an open resource. The information received is not used in favor of the victim. The most dangerous type of action is complete control over someone else’s computer system with the function of administering an infected PC. Fraudsters quietly carry out certain operations on behalf of the victim.

How to find a trojan on a computer

Trojan programs are detected and protection against them, depending on the class of the virus. You can search for trojans using antiviruses. To do this, one of the applications such as Kaspersky Virus or Dr. Web However, it should be remembered that not always downloading an antivirus program will help to detect and remove all trojans, because the body of a malicious utility can create many copies. If the described products did not cope with the task, then manually look in the registry of your PC for such directories as runonce, run, windows, soft to check for infected files.

Delete Trojan

If the PC is infected, it must be treated urgently. How to remove a trojan? Use free Kaspersky antivirus, Spyware Terminator, Malwarebytes or paid Trojan Remover software. These products will scan, show results, offer to remove the viruses found. If new applications appear again, video downloads are shown, or screenshots are created, it means that the removal of the trojans was unsuccessful. In this case, you should try downloading the utility to quickly scan infected files from an alternative source, for example, CureIt.

Trojan Protection

It’s easier to prevent the virus from getting on your PC than to cure it. The main protection against trojans is the installation of effective software that can neutralize the attack of malicious utilities. In addition, the following actions will help protect against the penetration of Trojans:

• periodically updated antivirus;
• Firewall always on
• regularly updated operating system;
• use of information only from verified sources;
• a ban on switching to dubious sites;
• use of different passwords for services;
• addresses of sites where there is an account with valuable data is better to enter manually.