![]() ![]() Probably the most difficult kind of typosquatting attack to recognize is one that redirects you to a phishing website that looks identical to the real one.ĭepending on the website, the user might enter all sorts of personal information like credit card details, login credentials or social security numbers. This type of blackmail is the same motivation as for regular cybersquatting. If a fake site manages to hijack enough traffic, the scammer could offer to sell the domain back to the legitimate owner, betting that they’d rather pay than have to go through a lengthy takedown process. Sometimes the typosquatter has no interest in the user’s traffic at all, beyond using it as a bargaining chip. Selling the Domain Name to the Legitimate Site’s Owner All you really need in this case is an ad blocker. This is commonly done by setting up a URL that’s very similar to a company or person’s name, and then posting a disparaging statement or opinion about that person or company on the site.Īlthough domain squatting for ad revenue isn’t exactly great, it’s a far cry from more nefarious motivations. The first - and by far the most benign - motivation for cybersquatting is to simply make a statement. There are a few different reasons for scammers to set up typosquatted domains, and what the actual website will look like will largely depend on this motivation. Where the online scam goes from there depends on the motivation of the person or people who set up the fraudulent website. ![]() Removing or adding a period in order to mask some part of the URL or make it appear as another site (for example, “twitt.er”)Īll of these methods have the same end result of getting the user to visit a website that they otherwise wouldn’t.Appending an additional word to a URL that looks legitimate (for example, “” or something similar).Pluralized version of a legitimate URL (for example, “” vs “”).A different top-level domain (for example, replacing “.com” with “.net”).A foreign translation of a legitimate URL.A misspelling or typo (usually one that’s easy to make) of a legitimate URL.Some common methods of typosquatting include: There are a few different ways this is done, but all of them revolve around the similarity of the fake URL to the real one. Typosquatting refers to the practice of registering a domain with a URL that’s very similar to a legitimate (and usually popular) website in order to trick users into visiting the fraudulent site rather than the real one. What Is Typosquatting? Definition and How It Works More malicious intents include installing malware, stealing personal information, or tricking you into thinking you’re on the real website. In its most benign form, you’re simply being rerouted to a different website, such as a competitor’s. The danger that comes from visiting a typosquatted website depends on its purpose. Stick with us as we go into more details about typosquatting. However, others are not necessarily dangerous to the end user, aiming to generate advertising revenue or sell the wrong domain address back to the brand owner. While the worst are malicious websites looking to install malware on your device or collect personal information through phishing scams. Other uses for typosquatting domains include blackmailing owners of legitimate domains, redirecting website visitors to a competitor of the genuine site or, in less malicious cases, collecting ad revenue or making some sort of statement.įake websites with misspelled domains are a dime a dozen, but not all are inherently dangerous to simply visit.A typosquatting website targets internet users in order to download malicious software onto their device, lure them into phishing schemes or harvest their personal information for identity theft purposes.A typosquatting domain is a fake website that relies on misspelled domain names to redirect users away from the real site and to an alternative website.However, what is typosquatting, how does it work and why do scammers do it? Key Takeaways: ![]() Have you ever accidentally mistyped a URL and ended up on a website you didn’t expect? If you have, then you might have happened upon an instance of typosquatting (also known as URL hijacking), a practice used by scammers to take advantage of traffic that would otherwise go to a different, legitimate website. Written by Aleksander Hougen ( Managing Editor)įacts checked by Jasna Mishevska ( Lead Fact-Checking Editor)Īll our content is written fully by humans we do not publish AI writing. How to Create a Strong Password in 2023: Secure Password Generator & 6 Tips for Strong Passwords.How to Securely Store Passwords in 2023: Best Secure Password Storage.Best Password Manager for Small Business.Online Storage or Online Backup: What's The Difference?.
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