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Home » Computers And Internet Articles » Trojan Horse Greek Myth Or Your Personal Computer Nemesis It Is Your Choice

Trojan Horse – Greek Myth Or Your Personal Computer Nemesis - It Is Your Choice

In Greek Mythology, Odysseus tricked the Trojans into letting the Greek army into the impregnable gates of Troy by having his men convert one of their ships into a huge wooden horse, presenting it as a gift with all his troops inside. Shown to beautiful effect by the Brad Pitt film Troy, the tactic is unfortunately used in the computing world in exactly the same way.

Trojan Horses are programs that masquerade as something harmless. They don't replicate themselves, they don't destroy your data, and they don't seem to do anything. Don't be fooled. Trojan Horses do their dirty work, like the Greeks of myth, by being the "inside man" – they'll disable your firewall protection, opening ports for botnet masters to turn your computer into a zombie, they'll promise to remove viruses while downloading installation packages for them, or they'll invite keystroke loggers to steal your personal information and send it out on the Internet for people who'll use the information to do untold harm to you.

Most Trojan Horses, like phishing attacks, rely on the human side of security to work. You'll see a pop up ad advertising something (like a high school class reunion search engine, or something to cleanse your computer of viruses and spyware) and click on it. Or you'll get a link to a video clip from a friend or an email attachment, claiming to be a patch to protect your computer from a virus.

As always, the best way to stop this is to never click on attachments from people you don't know and don't trust implicitly. Never ever download something you weren't specifically looking for in a legitimate directory of applications (like http://tucows.com). Always assume that any email from someone you don't know is a spammer trying to do you harm, unless you have legitimate reasons to believe otherwise.

Activating Trojans is never a good thing – they run roughshod (pun intended) over all of your data. They can erase things, install other programs, give your computer a host of ailments, and steal your personal data, sending out to scammers and thieves.

Most operating systems have regular security updates. Make sure you update your installation regularly – Windows Automatic Update is a good thing to just leave turned on for your machine. You'll also be better protected by making sure your computer is run with a user account, rather than an account with administration privileges. Most Trojans need those administrative privileges to install themselves, and simply having a separate administrative account you use for installing software, and a user account where you use it, is a good mechanism to stop Trojans (this is the default on Macintosh and Linux systems, and one of the main reasons why there aren't as many malware threats for those platforms.)

Always be vigilant and, if you have one, use a firewall to guard your computer – even a software one like ZoneAlarm will do the job. A firewall closes off ports (ways your computer talks to other computers) which are the common targets and communication paths for Trojans to do their dirty work.

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Ideas on Creating a Maryland-Inspired Gift Basket

If you're looking for gift basket ideas, look in Maryland on the east coast of the USA. The state has a rich history as a border location and that brings an interesting combination of North and South to its residents. You will generally see more of a Southern mentality when visiting the rural parts of Maryland, while Northern culture is more prevalent in the greater populated Central Maryland area. If you want to create original gift baskets that showcase the many facets of this town, you'll need to look a little deeper than just on the surface.

The economy of Maryland is quite diverse, leading the way in the advancement of life sciences with its more than 350 biotechnology firms scattered about the state. It is here that the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are positioned. One of the best medical schools is located in Maryland (Johns Hopkins), so of course a gift basket stemming from the profession would be a great reward for those looking to enter the medical profession. Include basic items such as medical tools of the trade; gag candy pills with witty labels, or chocolate tongue depressors.

Maryland is a big food producer and gets a good bit of attention from the commercial fishing industry. You'll find some of the largest catches in Chesapeake Bay, such as blue crab, striped bass, and oysters. Gift baskets that give people many ways to season, prepare, and cook seafood can be presented through a variety of spices, cooking utensils, and cookbooks.

Chesapeake Bay is a place to find a gift basket idea that will touch dog lovers. It is the Chesapeake Bay retriever. As the state dog we can find many gift basket ideas that owners will love giving to their furry friends. Be sure to include a great selection of essentials such as a dog leash, collars, chew toys, bones, snacks, treats, and training tools. You can also celebrate the love for the dog with themed items, such as decorative mugs sporting the pet's image; dog care manuals, dog-shaped chocolates, ornamental picture frames, and expressive license plate covers.

If you are looking for more ideas in the state, look no further than Annapolis (home of the United States Naval Academy); College Park (home of the College Park Airport, which is the oldest continuously-operated airport in the U.S.); and Silver Spring (one of the largest urban districts in the state).

Most states have sports teams that offer ideas for a great gift basket, Maryland is no exception. Try using the official state bird of Maryland; the Baltimore Orioles serve as Major League Baseball representation. You'll also find the NFL team, the Baltimore Ravens, and a major indoor soccer league called the Baltimore Blast. Include a theme created around square dance and offer instructional tapes, music, and accessories.