Trojans hide by disguising themselves as legitimate and harmless files or applications to trick users into installing them.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
-
Masquerading as Legitimate Software: Trojans often pretend to be something useful or desirable. This could be a software update, a free application, a video game, or even an anti-virus program.
-
Bundling with Other Software: Trojans can be bundled with legitimate software. The user might knowingly install the genuine application but unknowingly install the Trojan at the same time. This is sometimes done through deceptive installers.
-
Hiding in Email Attachments: Trojans are frequently distributed through email attachments that appear to be important documents, invoices, or images. These attachments often exploit vulnerabilities in software to execute malicious code when opened.
-
Exploiting Social Engineering: Attackers use social engineering techniques to trick users into downloading and installing Trojans. This might involve creating a sense of urgency or appealing to a user's curiosity. For example, a fake warning message might prompt the user to download a "critical update" which is actually a Trojan.
-
Website Downloads: Malicious websites can host Trojans disguised as legitimate downloads. These websites may look convincing and offer seemingly useful software.
-
Compromised Websites: Legitimate websites that have been compromised can be used to distribute Trojans. When a user visits the compromised website, the Trojan is silently downloaded and installed on their computer through a drive-by download.
-
Infected Media: Removable media such as USB drives or external hard drives can be used to spread Trojans if the user has autorun enabled (though this is less common now due to security measures).
In essence, Trojans rely on deception. They trick users into voluntarily executing them by concealing their true malicious intent.
