A Trojan, or Trojan horse, is a type of spyware or malware that needs to be removed from your computer as soon as possible. They are very harmful! They make their way into your computer as useful software programs. The useful software program could be a game you have downloaded from the Internet. It could be some sort of a gift, or a toolbar which has legitimate functions such as a weather updater or even an online music station.
Unfortunately, this useful piece of software carries with it some undesirable software which has the ability to steal control of your computer away from you. In other words, the Trojan may set up access to your computer from a computer far away. With this access there is no telling what the evildoer who has wrested control of your computer will do.
Spam Access
Sometimes this access can be used to spam you. The Trojan can find out your email address, or addresses, and sell them to people who will send you e-mails trying to sell you their wares. In some cases, the emails may even carry with them attachments which could present more danger to you and your computer.
Unwanted Pop Ups
Other times this Trojan can be used to pop up messages on your screen. These messages will usually not be stopped by a pop up blocker. In most cases these pop-ups will carry with them advertisements. However, these advertisements will keep coming at you all the time and in extreme cases you will be unable to close them unless you buy the product they are selling.
Keyloggers
Maybe even worse, the malware could carry with it a keylogger. A keylogger is, unfortunately, a relatively commonplace piece of software. When it is installed on your computer, a person from another computer can, as the name implies, log all the keystrokes you make. Done properly, someone tracking a keylogger can learn what user name and password you have typed in when you were entering your bank’s website! With a little imagination you can see how, in the wrong hands, a keylogger would be a very dangerous tool.
Trojans are probably the worst type of all the many spyware and virus strains that are known at this time. Fortunately they can be detected with a software program which finds and deletes various types of malware. There are many virus cleaners around today that will protect you against Trojans. Also, spyware cleaners are very good protection against Trojans. The point is, whether you are using a virus cleaner or spyware cleaner to protect your computer, and yourself, from malware, make sure one of the types of malware it will remove is Trojan horse malware.
The author, Ed Lathrop is a comp TIA A+/Network+ certified computer technician familiar with the operation, repair and upkeep of today’s PC’s. His site, Antispyware Review, rates the latest spyware cleaners and tells which work great and which ones might actually be dangerous to your computer. Also, Speed Up Computer shows you how to get your computer’s speed back!
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Lathrop