trojan horse
Deceptive inside job
A trojan horse is any deceptive trick that conceals a hidden threat or agenda behind an appealing exterior.
In computing, a trojan horse (or simply trojan) is malware disguised as legitimate software—it looks useful but secretly damages systems or steals data: The free download turned out to be a trojan horse.
The phrase comes from the Greek myth but has become generic for any infiltration through deception. (Capitalized Trojan Horse refers to the mythical wooden horse used to infiltrate Troy.)
- spywareHidden surveillance program
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- computer virusSelf-copying malicious program
- cyber attackDigital system assault
rootkit · subterfuge · belly of the beast · deception · virus · duplicity · stratagem · hidden agenda · infiltration · inside job · Homer · Cassandra · Virgil · false pretense · Priam · covert operation · Odysseus · Iliad
- covert tacticssubterfuge, decoy, feint, diversion, misdirection
- cyber threatsmalware, phishing, hacking, virus, ransomware
- cyberattacksmalware, phishing, ransomware, hack, virus
- Treachery SymbolsJudas, Brutus, Judas kiss, kiss of Judas, silver coins
- malwarevirus, viruses, worm, worms, spyware
- Security Attackshacking, intrusion, phishing, spoofing, brute force
trojan horsefull disclosure
Withholding no information
plain dealing · cards on the table · what you see is what you get · transparency · open communication
trojan horsefrontal assault
Attack from the front
direct attack · declared war · siege · blitzkrieg · pitched battle
horse, horses, horseshoe, horseback, horseman, horsey, horsepower, horsing, horseshoes