What is a trojan in terms of malware?

A trojan is a type of malware that is specifically designed to masquerade as legitimate software to trick users into installing it on their systems. Once embedded, this malicious software can perform various harmful actions, such as stealing data, granting unauthorized access to hackers, or creating vulnerabilities in the system. The key characteristic of a trojan is its deceptive nature; it pretends to be something useful or benign, thereby enticing users to run it.

This distinguishing feature sets it apart from other cybersecurity tools or software. For instance, password managers, email filtering tools, and spam email detectors are designed to protect users and their data. In contrast, a trojan's primary intent is to deceive and exploit users, making knowledge about such threats essential for maintaining internet security.