A quick guide to trojan horse: Things worth knowing!

There are different types of malware that hackers and cybercriminals use for attacking businesses and individuals. A few of them are super-easy to detect – Think of adware. You know there is an adware issue when you start seeing too many ads and popups. Not all malware programs work in the same way. Some like trojan horse are hard to detect. For the unversed, trojan horse, also called trojan, refers to malware that deceives the user of its true intent. The file may look like a genuine software download, but once installed, it works for the hacker. How can you prevent trojan horse? How does trojan work? Here are some quick things worth knowing!

The uses of trojans for hackers

Hackers are basically interested in using trojan for activities below the surface. Trojan can be used for spying, for encrypting, stealing, or modifying data, for launching ransomware attacks, and in some cases, to take control over other IT resources and networked devices. Trojans are hard to find at times, because the software seems legit, and in many cases, hackers use this kind of malware to create a backdoor. Trojans often come from phishing emails, and in some cases, a popup may appear that will convince the user that their system has been attacked or hacked, and they must download the software to get rid of the virus. 

How to prevent trojans?

  1. Use advanced cybersecurity suite and antimalware software for your networked devices. 
  2. Ensure that default usernames and passwords are changed without delay. 
  3. Ask employees to create long and strong passwords, and recommend a password manager. 
  4. Where required, use multifactor authentication, including OTPs. 
  5. Place all networked devices behind firewalls. 
  6. Focus on email security and encourage employees to report spam emails. 
  7. Keep everything, including operating systems, apps, software, & firmware, up to date, to the latest version. 
  8. Train your employees on how to notice trojan files and malware emails. 
  9. Create a list of dos and don’ts for every department for malware prevention.
  10. Test and scan your networks and devices regularly. Also, take regular backups. 

Final word

Your company needs to be a step ahead of hackers to prevent hacking attempts. Make sure that you rely on the best possible antimalware and anti-spyware software products, and if your employees do not know about trojan files and social engineering tactics, consider conducting a workshop. A few basic steps can protect your business from the consequences of a security breach.