What Is a Trojan Virus?
A Trojan is malicious software disguised as something else. Executing a file hidden in a Trojan may reveal an annoying but relatively harmless computer prank--if you're lucky. If you are unlucky, you may find that your entire system is wiped out.
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Trojans
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A Trojan is a vehicle by which unsuspecting people are tricked into executing or downloading software onto their computer. A Trojan may be disguised as anything that will entice a user to click on it, such as an innocent-looking link, a picture or a video player. Once the user opens a Trojan, malicious software can get to work, often in the computer's background.
Viruses and Malware
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Viruses destroy data--sometimes specific data, sometimes whole directories. A virus is a type of malware. Malware, as the name suggests, is malicious software. Malware may be used to do any number of things. A common use of malware is to log keystrokes and steal passwords and other personal data.
Worms
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A worm is a type of malware that replicates. It is not content to infect only your computer--it wants to infect the computers of all of your friends. Worms most often use the address book in your email program to send copies of themselves out.
Data Loss
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You should make a habit of backing up your computer's important files. Data loss is an inherent risk of computer use. Your data could just as easily be at risk from a power surge as it is from malware. It is always a good practice to save often and back up files to a location other than your computer. Removable hard drives, flash drives and DVDs are good backup solutions.
Reducing Trojan Risk
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There are several ways that you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of Trojan software. Don't open suspicious-looking email. Don't click on links in emails unless you know it is from a reputable source. Don't download software from unknown sites. Download software from reputable sources only. Don't click on video players or links unless you are on a reputable site. Don't use third-party sites for software updates. If you need to update multimedia software, go directly to the software's site. Most importantly, keep your antivirus and anti-spyware software updated.
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