How to Defend Against Trojan Horses Using VPNs

The Greeks devised a clever strategy after a long war. They built a giant wooden horse, hid selected troops inside, and pretended to sail away, leaving the horse in front of the enemy's stronghold, Troy. The Trojans, mistaking it for a victory trophy, brought it into their city. That night, the Greeks inside the horse emerged, opened the gates for the rest of their army, and ultimately succeeded in destroying the city. This ingenious strategy led to the Greeks' victory in the Trojan War.

Trojan Horse Origin

This story from ancient Greek mythology is the origin of the Trojan horse. Today, it is often used metaphorically to describe any trick or strategy that invites the enemy into a fortress or specific location. In the digital world, a "Trojan horse" is a malicious computer program that deceives users into executing it intentionally.

What is a Trojan Horse?

A Trojan horse is a type of malware that disguises itself as a legitimate program to trick users into downloading it. Once installed, it allows attackers to access the computer without permission, steal sensitive data, or compromise personal information. For businesses, this can mean the loss of confidential information to cybercriminals.

Types of Trojan Horses

1. Backdoor Trojans: Allows hackers to remotely access and control the computer, upload, download, or execute files as they wish. Infection can lead to important files being leaked or deleted and could be exploited for crimes.

2. Exploit Trojans: Designed to inject programs containing code and data to exploit specific software vulnerabilities on a computer.

3. Spy Trojans: Monitors the user's activities on the infected computer, such as tracking keyboard inputs, taking screenshots, or collecting running application lists.

4. Rootkit Trojans: Programs that hide certain objects or activities on the system to prevent malware from being detected.

5. Banker Trojans: Programs created to steal account data used in online banking systems, electronic payment systems, or credit/debit cards.

6. DDoS Trojans: Designed to perform distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on specific networks or machines.

7. Downloader Trojans: Programs that download and install additional malware, including other Trojans and adware, on the device.

Signs of Trojan Horse Infection

• The device becomes slow or overheated, often due to secretly running resource-intensive ads or consuming data through browser traffic or file downloads and uploads.
• Frequent screen freezes or crashes due to abnormal network activity, possibly caused by automatic data transmission, traffic congestion, or numerous DNS requests.
• Unexpected messages in the 'Sent' folder, as malware can access personal information and attempt to contact the target's contacts by stealing login credentials or spoofing identities through email and social media accounts.
• Unauthorized changes, such as file modifications, browser changes, security setting alterations, and network adjustments, can occur due to malware.

Defending Against Trojan Horses with VPNs

The core issue is vulnerable security. Many people use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to build robust defense mechanisms. VPNs work by creating an encrypted tunnel between the device and the destination, encrypting personal data, and routing internet traffic through a remote VPN server, hiding information and online activities from hackers and ISPs. This is particularly useful in public networks, preventing cybercriminals from accessing and misusing personal information like passwords, financial data, and browsing history.

Five Ways VPNs Defend Against Trojan Horses

1. Blocking Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: A secure internet connection through a VPN uses a private, encrypted tunnel, preventing middlemen from intercepting and altering communications.

2. Encryption: VPNs encrypt all data transmitted to websites, preventing third-party access to personal data. Hackers attempting to monitor network activity cannot penetrate accounts or inject malicious links into messages.

3. Anonymity: Hides the user's IP address and routes internet traffic through remote servers in different regions, hindering hackers' attempts to track or monitor online activities.

4. Secure Remote Access: VPNs provide a secure way for remote workers or employees to connect to company resources without exposing sensitive data to potential threats.

5. Delaying and Interrupting Malware Infections: VPNs use secure ports and block dangerous ones, making it harder for hackers to infect systems through open ports.

BlancVPN for Defending Against Trojan Horses

Investing in a reputable, high-quality VPN service is essential for robust security. Free VPNs often come with limitations, such as supporting only one protocol, whereas BlancVPN offers the four strongest protocols known for encryption algorithms, fast speeds, resilient access, and bypassing censorship and restricted content.

VPNs play a crucial role in defending against ever-evolving cyber threats like Trojan horses. Prioritizing 'strong security' means investing in a reputable, high-quality VPN service. BlancVPN offers a 30-day free trial with a money-back guarantee, allowing you to test it risk-free and see if it meets your needs.