What type of attack does a Trojan horse exemplify?

A Trojan horse exemplifies a type of attack characterized as malicious code that effectively masquerades as a legitimate program. The fundamental nature of a Trojan horse is its capability to deceive users into installing it by appearing to serve a useful purpose. Unlike self-replicating viruses, which can spread and infect other systems, a Trojan relies on user interaction to be executed.

When users unknowingly execute a Trojan horse, it can lead to a variety of harmful outcomes, such as stealing sensitive data, compromising system integrity, or opening backdoors for further attacks. The disguise is a key aspect of how Trojans operate; they often imitate trusted software or files to trick individuals into granting access to the system. Understanding this characteristic is crucial for recognizing and preventing such attacks in cybersecurity.