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Trojan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you have a Trojan question, send it to us so we can add it to our list

1. Why do Trojans keep running even after I reboot my computer?

1. Why do Trojans keep running even after I reboot my computer?

In order to do its job (key logging, remote control, etc.), the Trojan must be running in your computer's memory. If you could disable it by just rebooting your computer, it wouldn't be much use to the hacker, would it? Trojan software uses the same techniques that any other piece of software does to start automatically when the computer reboots. These include the Start-up folder, registry items, initialization files and a few other tricks.

The easiest to understand is the Start-up Folder (Start > Programs > Startup). However, this is too obvious. A Trojan has to be hiding from you and working in the background in order to be effective. There are many places in the registry that a devious Trojan can hide. If you list these registry locations and then add the other techniques that Trojans can use, you can compile a list of about 15 items. Rather than detail this complex list here, follow this link. to a page that does list these locations and techniques.

Understanding how programs start up automatically is valuable information for understanding how Trojans work and much more. For example, have you ever had a program start automatically against your wishes? Now you know how to handle it.

As always, use caution when working with the registry and back it up before making any changes.

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