trojan
n. countablen. a type of harmful computer program that looks safe but steals your data or damages your system once you open it. It gets its name from the famous wooden horse used to trick people in ancient history.
n. a malicious software program that misleads users of its true intent by appearing as a legitimate file or application. In astronomy, refers to an asteroid that shares an orbit with a larger planet.
Never download unknown files because they might contain a trojan.
The security breach occurred after an employee inadvertently installed a trojan disguised as a routine software update.
Modern cybersecurity defenses must constantly evolve to detect sophisticated trojans that remain dormant within a system for months before executing their primary payload.
From old forms Troyan, Troian, Middle English Troiā̆n, from Old English Trōiān, from Latin Troiānus, from Troia (“Troy”) + -ānus, from Ancient Greek Τροίᾱ (Troíā).
Often used as a modifier in the phrase 'trojan horse' or as a standalone noun in technical contexts.