Today on history channel, The Trojan Horse malware

A Trojan horse or Trojan is a type of malware that is often disguised as legitimate software. Trojans can be employed by cyber-thieves and hackers trying to gain access to users' systems. Users are typically tricked by some form of social engineering into loading and executing Trojans on their systems. Once activated, Trojans can enable cyber-criminals to spy on you, steal your sensitive data, and gain backdoor access to your system. These actions can include:

·        Crashing the computer or device.

·        Modification or deletion of files.

·        Data corruption.

·        Block anti-virus programs.

·        Block installation process.

·        Formatting disks, destroying all contents.

·        Spreading malware across the network.

·        Spying on user activities and access sensitive information.

Unlike computer viruses and worms, Trojans are not able to self-replicate.

How Trojans can harm you:

·        Backdoor 
A backdoor Trojan gives malicious users remote control over the infected computer. They enable the author to do anything they wish on the infected computer – including sending, receiving, launching and deleting files, displaying data and rebooting the computer. Backdoor Trojans are often used to unite a group of victim computers to form a botnet or zombie network that can be used for criminal purposes.

·        Exploit 
Exploits are programs that contain data or code that takes advantage of a vulnerability within application software that’s running on your computer.

·    Rootkit 
Rootkits are designed to conceal certain objects or activities in your system. Often their main purpose is to prevent malicious programs being detected – in order to extend the period in which programs can run on an infected computer.

·        Trojan-Banker 
Trojan-Banker programs are designed to steal your account data for online banking systems, e-payment systems and credit or debit cards.

·        Trojan-DDoS 
These programs conduct DoS (Denial of Service) attacks against a targeted web address. By sending multiple requests – from your computer and several other infected computers – the attack can overwhelm the target address… leading to a denial of service.

·        Trojan-Downloader  
Trojan-Downloaders can download and install new versions of malicious programs onto your computer – including Trojans and adware.

·        Trojan-Dropper  
These programs are used by hackers in order to install Trojans and / or viruses – or to prevent the detection of malicious programs. Not all antivirus programs are capable of scanning all of the components inside this type of Trojan.

·        Trojan-FakeAV  
Trojan-FakeAV programs simulate the activity of antivirus software. They are designed to extort money from you – in return for the detection and removal of threats… even though the threats that they report are actually non-existent.

·        Trojan-GameThief 
This type of program steals user account information from online gamers.

·        Trojan-IM 
Trojan-IM programs steal your logins and passwords for instant messaging programs – such as ICQ, MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Pager, Skype and many more.

·        Trojan-Ransom 
This type of Trojan can modify data on your computer – so that your computer doesn’t run correctly or you can no longer use specific data. The criminal will only restore your computer’s performance or unblock your data, after you have paid them the ransom money that they demand.

·        Trojan-SMS 
These programs can cost you money – by sending text messages from your mobile device to premium rate phone numbers.

·        Trojan-Spy  
Trojan-Spy programs can spy on how you’re using your computer – for example, by tracking the data you enter via your keyboard, taking screen shots or getting a list of running applications.

·        Trojan-Mailfinder 
These programs can harvest email addresses from your computer.

Other types of Trojans:

o   Trojan-ArcBomb

o   Trojan-Clicker

o   Trojan-Notifier

o   Trojan-Proxy

o   Trojan-PSW 

How Trojans can fuck up your system:

Use of resources or identity

·        Use of the machine as part of a botnet (e.g. to perform automated spamming or to distribute Denial-of-service attacks)

·        Using computer resources for mining crypto currencies 

·        Using the infected computer as proxy for illegal activities and/or attacks on other computers.

·        Infecting other connected devices on the network.

Money theft, ransom

·        Electronic money theft

·        Installing ransomware such as CryptoLocker

Data theft

·        Data theft, including for industrial espionage

·        User passwords or payment card information

·        User personally identifiable information

·        Trade secrets

Spying, surveillance or stalking

·        Keystroke logging

·        Watching the user's screen

·        Viewing the user's webcam

·        Controlling the computer system remotely

So? How to protect yourself?

1.    Protect your computer with strong security software and make sure to keep it up to date. A reputable anti-malware software guarantees trusted PC protection from Trojans, hackers, spyware, and more. Integrated anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, anti-spam, anti-phishing, and backup technologies work together to combat today’s advanced multi-faceted attacks.

2.    Use a security-conscious Internet service provider (ISP) that implements strong anti-spam and anti-phishing procedures. For example, AOL blocks known phishing sites so that customers can’t reach them.

3.    Enable automatic Windows updates or download Microsoft updates regularly to keep your operating system patched against known vulnerabilities. Install patches from other software manufacturers as soon as they are distributed. A fully patched computer behind a firewall is the best defense against Trojan and spyware installation.

4.    Use extreme caution when opening attachments. Configure your anti-virus software to automatically scan all email and instant message attachments. Make sure your email program doesn’t automatically open attachments or automatically render graphics, and ensure that the preview pane is turned off. This will prevent macros from executing. Never open unsolicited business emails, or attachments that you’re not expecting even from people you know.

5.    Be careful when engaging in peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing. Trojans sit within file sharing programs waiting to be downloaded. Use the same precautions when downloading shared files that you do for email and IM. Avoid downloading files with the extensions .exe, .scr, .lnk, .bat, .vbs, .dll, .bin, and .cmd. Anti-virus software and a good firewall will protect your system from malicious files.

6.    Download the latest version of your browser to ensure that it is also fully updated and utilizes the latest technologies to identify and filter out phishing sites that can install Trojans.

7.    Use security precautions for your cell phone and Wi-Fi devices. Trojans arrive as an email/IM attachment, are downloaded from the Internet, or are uploaded along with other data from a desktop. Cell phone viruses are in their infancy, but will become more common as more people buy phones with advanced features.

8.    Configure your instant messaging application correctly. Make sure it does not open automatically when you fire up your computer. Turn off your computer and disconnect the DSL or modem line when you’re not using it. Beware of spam-based phishing schemes and don’t click links in emails or IM.

9.    Be certain a web site is legitimate before you go there. Use software that automatically checks this, such as AccountGuard and ScamBlocker from Earthlink.

10. Back up your files regularly and store the backups somewhere besides your PC. If you fall victim to a Trojan attack, you can recover your photos, music, movies, and personal information like tax returns and bank statements.

Naming a few of them:

Private and governmental

·        FinFisher – Lench IT solutions / Gamma International

·        DaVinci / Galileo RCS – HT S.r.l. (hacking team)

·        0zapftis / r2d2 StaatsTrojaner – DigiTask

·        TAO QUANTUM/FOXACID – NSA

·        Magic Lantern – FBI

·        WARRIOR PRIDE – GCHQ

Publicly available

·        Netbus – 1998 (published)

·        Sub7 by Mobman – 1999 (published)

·        Back Orifice – 1998 (published)

·        Beast – 2002 (published)

·        Bifrost Trojan – 2004 (published)

·        DarkComet – 2008 (published)

·        Blackhole exploit kit – 2012 (published)

·        Gh0st RAT – 2009 (published)

·        MegaPanzer BundesTrojaner – 2009 (published)

Detected by security researchers

·        Clickbot.A – 2006 (discovered)

·        Zeus – 2007 (discovered)

·        Flashback Trojan – 2011 (discovered)

·        ZeroAccess – 2011 (discovered)

·        Koobface – 2008 (discovered)

·        Vundo – 2009 (discovered)

·        Meredrop – 2010 (discovered)

·        Coreflood – 2010 (discovered)

·        Tiny Banker Trojan – 2012 (discovered)

·        Shedun Android malware – 2015 (discovered)