In the vast realm of cybersecurity, one threat looms ominously — the 'Trojan Horse'. This so-called cyberspace miscreant has wreaked havoc since its inception, causing immeasurable damage to individuals and businesses. Therefore, understanding what is a Trojan Horse is vital in mobilizing effective defenses against this malicious crypto creature. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," especially when it pertains to cybersecurity threats.

The Tale Behind the Name – Trojan Horse

The name 'Trojan Horse' stems from ancient Greek history and is a fitting metaphor for its role in the digital landscape. The Greeks, in order to penetrate the resilient city of Troy, clandestinely smuggled soldiers into the city using a large wooden horse as a deceptive gift. Similarly, a Trojan Horse in the context of cybersecurity is a decoy – an appealing or seemingly harmless piece of software that hides a malicious payload.

Demystifying 'What is a Trojan Horse'

A 'Trojan Horse' or a 'Trojan,' in technical jargon, is a type of malicious software (malware) that masquerades as legitimate software or is embedded within legitimate software waiting to be downloaded and installed onto a computer system. Much like the historical symbol it represents, a Trojan dupes users into loading and executing the malware on their systems.

Diverse Stratagems of Trojan Horses

Trojans come in various forms and operate differently based on their design and mission. Some of the commonly employed Trojans include:

1. Backdoor Trojans: As the name suggests, these Trojans create a 'backdoor' in the security system, enabling unauthorized access to the system.
2. Exploit Trojans: These take advantage of software vulnerabilities to breech the security of a system.
3. Banking Trojans: These are specifically designed to steal sensitive information relating to online banking and other financial transactions.
4. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Trojans: These are used to inundate servers with traffic, rendering them unable to cater to legitimate requests.

How Does a Trojan Horse Infect a System?

In essence, a Trojan infestation rests largely on Social engineering. It tricks users into executing actions that they believe to be benign, but ultimately lead to unauthorized installation of malware. Often these actions, involve opening an email attachment or clicking on a hyperlink. Trojans can also lurk in downloads from unverified or insecure websites and be injected into legitimate websites and software through vulnerabilities.

What Damage Can a Trojan Horse Inflict?

The impact of a Trojan infection varies, but are mostly severe and always harmful. Depending on its nature and target, a Trojan can:

• Steal personal and financial data
• Take control of a system and use it for malicious activities
• Import additional malware onto the infected system
• Alter or delete files
• Significantly slow down a system or render it inoperable

Resisting the Trojan Invasion

Defending against Trojans calls for a blend of technical measures and user awareness. Key steps to ensure robust protection include:

• Installing a reliable antivirus program and keeping it up-to-date
• Regularly updating all software to patch vulnerabilities
• Operating system hardening and network layer security
• Regular data backup
• Exercising utmost caution while downloading files or opening email attachments

In Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding what is a Trojan Horse is the first step to securing one's digital environment from this insidious threat. It is a constant battle to keep this cunning adversary at bay, but with the right knowledge, judicious practices and robust system defenses, it is one that can be won.