Every day you use a computer, you rely on programs to complete simple tasks, from typing documents to downloading content. The only problem is that sometimes these programs come full with bugs such as Trojan viruses. As the name implies, a Trojan virus is an infection that can compromise your computer’s operating system and overall settings. Read on to find out what to do if you ever get a Trojan virus.
What Do Trojan Viruses Do?
One of the things you’ll notice after you get a Trojan virus is that it’s stealthy. It’s really good at hiding in-between the other programs and files in your computer. At face value, you might think that the program is just another piece of content in your computer or one of your favorite movies that you downloaded online.
The good news is there are a few tell-tale signs of Trojan horse viruses which you can look out for.
Here are just a few:
1. Spies
The primary function of a Trojan virus is to act as spyware. This means it’ll wait in the shadows until you enter your credentials such as your credit card information or online account username. Then, it’ll copy that data and send it back to the cybercriminal.
2. Slows Down Your Computer
Sometimes your computer is slow because you have a Trojan virus and not because you have multiple tabs open. A Trojan can significantly drain your computer’s operating system, thus slowing down the entire device.
3. Opens Backdoors
Trojan viruses can also alter your security system as well as your security codes. This opens your device up to further infiltration by malware that can cause damage without you even noticing.
4. Changes Language Settings
When you get a Trojan virus, you’ll notice spontaneous changes in your computer language. You might also notice that your screen display is back to front all of a sudden. These and other unpredictable changes show that your computer’s operating system is infected.
5. Damages Your Endpoint
Cybercriminals have been known to leverage DDoS attacks in order to steal online data and pester your contacts. They do this by placing Trojan viruses inside an endpoint, effectively hijacking it for their own end. This places you in a great deal of trouble because it’s your IP address that’ll be shown as the perpetrator.
6. Sends Expensive SMS Messages
You can get a Trojan virus in other devices aside from your computer. Cybercriminals can implant Trojan viruses into your smartphone and use your device to send SMS messages overseas, leaving you to foot the expensive bill. A cybercriminal can also use this same method to make money.
What You Should Do In Case a Trojan Virus Infects Your Computer?
What can you do if you get a Trojan virus? There are quite a few steps that you can take. You can either fix the problem yourself, or you can find software to help streamline the process. Even the most difficult Trojan can be removed no matter how embedded it is in your files.
Here are a few simple and helpful steps on how to do just that:
1. Identify the Trojan Virus
As with any form of disease, the first step to eradicating it is to identify that it’s there in the first place. So, your first step is to find the file/s within which the Trojan is hidden. Your system will attempt to warn you of the attack by sending a DLL error. If this happens, simply copy the error and search online to learn more about the infected .exe file.
2. Disable System Restore
This is a very important step, and skipping it will lead your computer to automatically restore the deleted files.
3. Restart the Computer
Hit F8 to restart and click on “safe mode” when launching your laptop or computer.
4. Go to Add or Remove Programs
This should be located in your computer’s control panel and it enables you to remove the infected programs from the source.
5. Uninstall All Extensions
Go to Windows System folder and remove all the files within the infected program. Once you’ve followed the steps outlined above, you can restart your computer through normal mode and proceed as usual. Your computer should officially be Trojan-free.
We also recommend Defencebyte as a must try product. This software comes highly recommended because it helps any device to remain secure from any possible threat.
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