Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
trojan-horse
noun
/ˈtrōʤən hɔrs/
Definition
A trojan horse is a type of malware that disguises itself as legitimate software or a harmless program to deceive users into downloading and installing it.
Examples
- The software claimed to improve system performance, but it turned out to be a trojan horse that compromised the entire network.
- Be cautious of emails that ask you to download attachments, as they may contain a trojan horse.
- The IT department worked hard to remove the trojan horse that had infiltrated the company’s computers.
Meaning
The term is derived from the Greek myth of the Trojan War, where Greek soldiers hid inside a large wooden horse that was presented as a gift to the city of Troy, allowing them to enter the city and ultimately defeat it.
Synonyms
- malware
- backdoor
- virus
- spyware
