// THREAT DETECTION AND DATA PRIVACY TERM

Trojan Horse

A Trojan horse is a type of malicious software that disguises itself as legitimate or harmless software to trick users into installing and running it. Once active, it performs unwanted actions, often giving attackers remote access or stealing data.

TECHNICAL DEFINITION

A Trojan horse is a form of malware deceptively camouflaged as benign software, enticing users to execute it; upon activation, it facilitates unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or the installation of additional malicious payloads by exploiting system vulnerabilities without user consent.

BACKGROUND

In computing, a trojan horse is a kind of malware that misleads users as to its true intent by disguising itself as a normal program. Trojans are generally spread by some form of social engineering. For example, a user may be duped into executing an email attachment disguised to appear innocuous, or into clicking on a fake advertisement on the Internet. Although their payload can be anything, many modern forms act as a backdoor, contacting a controller who can then have unauthorized access to the affected device. Ransomware attacks are often carried out using a trojan. Unlike computer viruses and worms, trojans generally do not attempt to inject themselves into other files or otherwise propagate themselves.

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SYNONYMS & ALIASES

  • Trojan
  • Trojan virus
  • Malicious disguised software
  • Ransom Trojan

USAGE NOTE

The term emphasizes social engineering, as Trojans rely on deceiving users to gain initial access, unlike self-replicating viruses or worms.

DEVELOPERS

Organizations developing technology related to Trojan Horse.

  • CrowdStrike

    Develops cloud-native endpoint protection, threat intelligence, and incident response services that detect and prevent various forms of malware, including advanced Trojan horses, using behavioral analytics and AI.

  • Palo Alto Networks

    Offers a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity products, including next-generation firewalls and Cortex XDR, which are designed to detect, prevent, and respond to sophisticated malware like Trojan horses across networks and endpoints.

  • Fortinet

    Provides integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, including endpoint detection and response (FortiEDR) and advanced threat protection, to identify and neutralize various malware, such as Trojan horses, at multiple points of attack.

  • Kaspersky Lab

    A global cybersecurity company that specializes in antivirus, internet security, and endpoint protection solutions, with a long history of researching and developing technologies to detect and combat Trojan horses and other malicious software.

  • Trellix

    Formed from the merger of McAfee Enterprise and FireEye, Trellix provides extended detection and response (XDR) solutions, threat intelligence, and incident response services to protect against advanced threats, including Trojan malware.

  • Sophos

    Develops a wide range of cybersecurity products, including endpoint protection, network security, and managed threat response, specifically designed to detect, block, and clean up malware like Trojan horses and their associated attacks.

  • Microsoft

    Through Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and other security services, Microsoft develops advanced threat protection capabilities integrated into its operating systems and cloud services to identify and mitigate Trojan horse infections.

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