What is a Trojan horse in cybersecurity?
D2 · Threats · CompTIA Security+ SY0-701A Trojan horse (Trojan) is malware that disguises itself as legitimate, useful software to trick users into installing it. Unlike viruses, Trojans don't self-replicate — they rely on social engineering for distribution.
Types: RAT (Remote Access Trojan) — gives attacker remote control; banking Trojan — steals financial credentials; downloader Trojan — downloads additional malware; backdoor Trojan — creates persistent access.
Common delivery: email attachments, fake software downloads, pirated software.
Types: RAT (Remote Access Trojan) — gives attacker remote control; banking Trojan — steals financial credentials; downloader Trojan — downloads additional malware; backdoor Trojan — creates persistent access.
Common delivery: email attachments, fake software downloads, pirated software.
Trojans ≠ viruses. Viruses self-replicate; Trojans need user action to install. RATs are particularly dangerous — they provide full interactive access. Defenses: email filtering, application allowlisting, user education. Check software signatures before installing.