Symantec responds to Trojan horses

By Andy Walker

Symantec develops technology to stop Trojan horses.

The Symantec AntiVirus Research Center has developed technology to stop password-stealing Trojan horse viruses.

"Trojan horse" is a computer term for a malicious piece of software that, when downloaded, steals log-on names and passwords, as well as other personal data like credit card information. It then e-mails what it’s found to someone else who can make use of the information, at the legitimate owner's expense.

Approximately 90% of the Trojan horses found in circulation are from online services. Some may display obscene messages on the user's screen, or delete the contents of their hard drive.

Users typically get Trojan horses by downloading a program that appears safe or promises free services. Trojan horses do not spread on their own. They can only be transmitted intentionally via e-mail (as attached files) or diskette or downloaded directly onto a PC.

Symantec's Bloodhound for Trojan Horses provides Norton AntiVirus users with the most expansive protection against new and unknown boot, file, and Word and Excel macro viruses, as well as Trojan horses. Bloodhound for Trojan Horses is included with the current virus definitions at Symantec's web site, http://www.symantec.com.

Norton Anti-Virus owners can protect their systems with Bloodhound for Trojan Horses by simply updating their virus definitions using the LiveUpdate feature in the software.