

Hackers can then use the zombie computer to continue sharing malware across a network of devices, known as a botnet.įor example, a user might receive an email from someone they know, which includes an attachment that also looks legitimate. A cyber criminal turns the device into a zombie computer, which means they have remote control of it without the user knowing. The malicious file could be hidden in banner advertisements, pop-up advertisements, or links on websites.Ī computer infected by Trojan malware can also spread it to other computers. When the email is opened and the malicious attachment is downloaded, the Trojan server will install and automatically run every time the infected device is turned on.ĭevices can also be infected by a Trojan through social engineering tactics, which cyber criminals use to coerce users into downloading a malicious application. This means the executable (.exe) file should be implemented and the program installed for the Trojan to attack a device’s system.Ī Trojan virus spreads through legitimate-looking emails and files attached to emails, which are spammed to reach the inboxes of as many people as possible. Unlike computer viruses, a Trojan horse cannot manifest by itself, so it needs a user to download the server side of the application for it to work. With a Trojan virus, the malware takes control of your computer, potentially leaving it vulnerable to other “invaders.” The soldiers in the Trojan horse controlled the city’s defense system.


In a similar vein, a Trojan virus looks like legitimate software. The Trojan horse appeared to be a legitimate gift.A Trojan virus, similarly, can be a good way to get behind an otherwise tight set of defenses. The Trojan horse gave them the access they had been wanting for a decade. In the original story, the attackers had laid siege to the city for 10 years and hadn’t succeeded in defeating it. The Trojan horse was a unique solution to the target’s defenses.There are a few elements of the story that make the term “Trojan horse” an appropriate name for these types of cyber attacks: The soldiers hid inside the huge wooden horse and once inside, they climbed out and let the other soldiers in. In the story, the enemies of the city of Troy were able to get inside the city gates using a horse they pretended was a gift. The original story of the Trojan horse can be found in the Aeneid by Virgil and the Odyssey by Homer.
