Remote Access Trojans – Hijacking Your Computer
Akin the mythical Trojan Horse which permitted the Greeks covert access to the city of Troy, in everyday computer terminology a Trojan is considered to be a piece of software that conceals a much more sinister program. The goal behind every Trojan that is unleashed on your computer is to hijack your machine. Generally speaking, the Trojan consists of at least two programs – one is benign and may actually be desired by the user, while the malicious program is hidden within the Trojan file. Such a Trojan may be a piece of shareware that a user will actually purposefully download and install on her or his computer with the intent of running it. As such, these files are considered useful and are therefore hard to track down. The danger to the computer user comes when the file unleashes its secret or malicious program, which is sometimes referred to as payload.
Some Trojans are actual programs created by reputable software companies that have been hacked into by those capable of reverse-engineering the file. Certain codes are then added which add the payload to this kind of Trojan program. Other Trojans are programs that have been created by computer hijackers with the express purpose of deceiving a computer user to download the program. To this end, these files are made to look like an image, such as a beautiful screen saver, or maybe a game file. The goal of the computer hijackers is for the unsuspecting user to download the file, install it, and then run it.
Once your computer is hijacked with the help of the Trojan program, the hacker is granted remote access to your machine. She or he is able to hijack your email, ferret out sensitive information, and abuse your email address to send large quantities of SPAM. Depending on the payload, your data may be compiled and sent to the hacker, you may find that your anti-virus software becomes disabled, or that large chunks of data are being corrupted or simply go missing.
To the average computer user, the idea of granting an unknown entity remote access to their files is a sobering notion and to this end many a computer user spends a lot of money of firewall and also anti virus software. Yet sadly this software is rarely if ever updated, and sweeps are not regularly scheduled. As a result, a Trojan with a remote access payload can sneak into the system, and soon another person will have unlimited and unfettered access to the computer. As such, the hacker may choose to disable the anti virus software and then proceed to upload or download any kinds of files she or he chooses.
Tracing such a Trojan and the payload is hard to do when the anti virus software has been disabled. You may have good luck by using a web-based application that will not require to be downloaded to your machine, since many Trojans will block such applications. If the web based software is successful in isolating the payload, it will then be able to allow the user access to the computer once more to download and install the anti virus package to regain complete control of the computer, its files, and all applicable functions. While it may be reminiscent of closing the barn door after the horse has run out, it is advisable to update and upgrade your anti virus software, anti spyware, an firewall applications if you suspect that your computer has fallen victim to a Trojan attack. Some of the less intricate payloads may be removed with an up to date program that specializes in the removal of Trojans. The more advanced programs may require the help of a computer professional who will be able to locate, isolate, and delete the payload and the Trojan carrying it.
