trojan

Trojan is an adjective and noun related to Troy, the ancient city in Anatolia. People from Troy are Trojans. In myth, the Trojan War pitted Troy against a Greek coalition and is described in classical literature. The war’s most famous episode involves the Wooden Horse, after which the Greeks destroyed Troy. Figures such as Priam, Aeneas, Hector, and Odysseus appear in various traditions.

The tale of the Trojan Horse recounts Greeks constructing a hollow wooden horse and feigning retreat. The Trojans, believing it to be an omen or offering to the gods, bring the horse inside their walled city. At night, Greek soldiers emerge, open the gates for their comrades, and destroy Troy.

In computing, a Trojan horse is malware that masquerades as legitimate software to trick users into installing it. Unlike viruses or worms, it does not self-replicate, but it may provide backdoor access or install additional malware. Protection includes updated antivirus software, cautious user behavior, software patches, and least-privilege access policies.

The term Trojans is also used for sports teams and institutions named after the mythic people, as well as in archaeology and classical studies to refer to artifacts or sites associated with ancient Troy.