What is a Trojan horse in the context of cybersecurity?

A Trojan horse in the context of cybersecurity refers to a type of malicious software that is disguised as legitimate software to deceive users. Unlike viruses or worms, which can spread from one computer to another on their own, a Trojan horse relies on users to unknowingly download and execute it, often under the pretense that it is something beneficial or harmless.

The reason this choice is accurate lies in the nature of how Trojans operate. They frequently exploit user trust by mimicking software that appears useful or necessary, such as games, files, or security updates. Once activated, the Trojan can perform various harmful activities without the user’s consent or knowledge, such as stealing personal information, creating backdoors for further attacks, or even enabling remote access to a cybercriminal.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe a Trojan horse. A legitimate antivirus program is designed to protect against malicious software, not masquerade as one. A file used for data recovery is typically intended to help in data restoration, while a tool for data encryption serves to secure data, neither of which aligns with the deceptive and harmful intent of a Trojan horse.