TROJAN HORSE

1
TROJAN HORSE

• Non-viral malicious code
• Named for the mythological namesake Trojan
  horse
  
• Hidden behaviors come out in programs and can
  vanquish your data.
  
• Trojan horses unlike viruses do not spread.
• Were originally created in the late 70s/early
  80s as academic and hacking challenges.

2
HISTORY OF TROJAN HORSES

• In late 80s, FidoNet bulletin boards made
  downloadable programs for users through chat
  rooms and message boards.
  
• Programs claim to do one thing, but actually did
  another.
  
• Dirty Dozen list was established in 1985 to list
  warnings about certain programs with Trojan
  Horses.
  

3
EXAMPLES

• CDIR.COM Program is supposed to give you a
  color directory of files on your disk, but it
  will scramble your disks FAT table.
  
• DROID.EXE a game that actually copies files to
  unexpected locations.
  
• EGABTR supposed to improve your EGA display,
  but when run, it deletes everything in sight and
  prints Arf! Arf! Got you!

4
TROJAN HORSE

• A program which someone tells you is legitimate
  software, but actually does something other than
  what the person claims.
  
• Usually it is passed from person to person.
• Discretion in choosing whom you accept programs
  from would reduce this problem.
  
• Dont run anything you dont understand!!!

5
TROJAN HIDING APPLICATIONS

• A program that the user thinks will do one thing,
  actually does that thing, but also does something
  else which the user would not approve of.
  
• Can compromise your user ID and password
  combinations, as well as credit card and other
  personal information.
  

6
SUSCEPTIBILITY

• If a user spends time in chat rooms, there is a
  greater chance of receiving a Trojan Horse from
  another user.
  
• AOL users more susceptible to receiving Trojan
  Horses
  
• Customize features
• Large user population
• Unskilled user population
• Anonymity

7
SECURE YOUR SYSTEM

• Employ computer security measures
• Firewalls
• Passwords
• Separation of duties
• Security against direct attacks must be built and
  designed into the systems aftermarket software
  is not going to solve the problem.

8
CONCLUSION

• Trojan Horses are not a new threat to computer
  users.
  
• Use and update anti-virus software
• Follow good security practices
• Keep aware of new developments in the field.
• Never download files attached to email from
  someone you dont know.