Maximum Security, Third Edition

Chapter 18. Trojans

"For they still prefer sheep to thinking men Ah, but men who think like sheep are even better"

—Brian McNeill, "No Gods and Precious Few Heroes"

"Beware of geeks bearing gifts"

—Anonymous

In This Chapter

• What Is a Trojan?

• Where Do Trojans Come From?

• How Often Are Trojans Really Discovered?

• What Level of Risk Do Trojans Represent?

• How Do I Detect a Trojan?

This chapter examines a type of threat to system and Internet security that has been with us almost as long as the computer: Trojan horses, often simply referred to as Trojans.

What Is a Trojan?

Trojan horses present more difficulties in definition than at first appears. Whereas viruses are defined primarily by their ability to replicate, Trojans are primarily defined by their payload, ...