trojan horse
Definition
A trojan horse is a type of malicious software that disguises itself as a legitimate or harmless program to trick someone into installing it on their computer. Once installed, it secretly gives hackers unauthorized access to your system, your data, or your customers' information. Courts and regulators treat a business's failure to protect against known threats like trojan horses as a potential breach of your legal duty to safeguard sensitive data.
Example
A hacker sends your bookkeeper an email with what looks like a software update for your accounting program, but installing it secretly lets the hacker steal your clients' financial records.
Watch Out
If a trojan horse causes a data breach at your business, you may face serious legal liability to your customers and regulatory fines, so investing in basic cybersecurity protections is not optional.
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This definition is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with a licensed attorney for legal guidance.
