Computer Safety - Trojans

Trojans Threats 

Trojans get their name from the fabled Trojan wars of the Iliad by Homer.  In this day however, trojans (small t) are programs that sit in residence on your computer and may either just sit there for awhile or until called on, or they can actively be working.  It all depends on how they were designed.  Some can have function or time triggers on them.

Trojans all have one major high level function, and that is to make your computer do what the trojan writer intended, without him being there.  Trojans can be used to attack other computers, to allow someone else to have direct access to your computer, to search your computer for various things and report that information back somewhere.  

Trojans don't serve up ads, but they can be used to download adware that does serve up popup ads on your computer.  So even if you wipe out the adware, the trojan may then again install it.

Where do trojans come from?

As many ways as there are into your system, that's where trojans can attack.  If you don't have good antivirus software on your computer, you can get them that way.  If you don't have a firewall, there are applications set up to try and find you and install it directly on your computer.  

Windows and many other applications also include trojans to a certain degree, but they aren't harmful to you or your computer.  When Windows tells you that you have updates to install, it's because the Windows trojan told the Windows server what you had on your computer and downloaded the update without telling you.  

Getting rid of trojans

There are getting to be some more sneaky ones out there, but for the most part, trojans will be wiped out by running an up to date antivirus software package.  If that doesn't do it, chances are that you are going to have to seek specific information on the trojan itself.