A Trojan horse is malware that disguises itself as legitimate software. Unlike a worm, it commonly depends on a user opening or running the disguised content. section 11.2.1
Recognize its main operational characteristics:
- Spreads commonly through email attachments or malicious websites. section 11.2.1
- May install a backdoor that enables unauthorized access to the infected computer. section 11.2.1
- Requires caution around unexpected attachments and untrusted websites because human intervention commonly enables malware to spread. section 11.2.1
Trojan horses belong to the broader malware category alongside viruses, worms, backdoors, and ransomware; their defining feature is disguise as legitimate content. section 11.6
