The Trojan gets its name from the fact that this form of malware disguises itself as harmless software. From this software, the Trojan then spreads to the device and causes damage. The danger from Trojans is still very high and it is not easy to recognize the danger in advance.
How a Trojan works
Trojans come in different forms. The aim can be to identify data stored on hard disks, to block files in order to release them again against payment or to install paid services on the device. Also widespread are Trojans that infect the computer, pretending to be another form of threat and thereby encouraging the user to install expensive software to combat this alleged threat. The Trojan itself always disguises itself as another program. Hence the name. The Trojan works like the famous Trojan horse, which the Greeks offered to the Trojans as a gift, only to hide in it. At night, the Greeks left the Trojan horse and were thus able to attack the Trojans within their own city walls. The digital Trojan horse therefore contains a digital attacker that cannot be recognized beforehand. In this case, the gift is the supposedly useful program in which the Trojan is hidden. This then attacks the system rather than the city. Sometimes it is even the case that the useful program actually fulfills the promised purpose. At the same time, of course, the Trojan is unleashed to do its dirty deeds.
How to recognize Trojans and protect yourself against them
It is extremely difficult to recognize Trojans. They come in different forms and disguise themselves in different ways. However, there are certain indicators that you may have caught a Trojan. The first warning sign is the e-mail inbox. E-mails with attachments or links are always dangerous. Attachments and links from unknown sources should never be clicked on. This is the first door for Trojans to get onto your computer. If there is already a Trojan in the system, you will usually notice that the computer is unusually slow. After all, the Trojan is an additional program that also eats up resources. And often not too little. This can slow down your computer considerably. To find out whether programs are running that you have not opened or even installed, you can check the Task Manager. If strange or unknown pop-ups are displayed, these may also be caused by a Trojan in the system. The same applies if files suddenly disappear or have been moved to other folders. Trojans lock files or rearrange them so that they can be restored against payment or by downloading additional software for a fee. Basically, you can say that any unusual behavior on the computer can indicate a Trojan. It is best to have an antivirus program scan your computer immediately.
Conclusion
Trojans are among the most harmful programs that can spread on a computer. Recognizing them is not easy, but you can protect yourself against them to a certain extent. Above all, you should not click on unknown sources. You can also protect your own data by storing it on an external hard disk or in a cloud. If the computer is infected, the data can then be easily restored once the malware has been removed.
