Typosquatting occurs when a website is created to prey on people who may have inadvertently typed in the wrong web address. An example would be arifrance instead of airfrance. Typosquatting is also referred to as URL hijacking, cybersquatting or brandjacking.
The registration of misspelled domain names is illegal. Sites like Wikapedia and Twtter have been shut down and fined $156,000 each. Mashable reported that sites like these “are popping up on the web to trick unsuspecting web users into clicking on fake ads that claim the user has won a prize. In the case of these two sites, to receive a prize, like an iPad, people were asked for their cellphone number. The site sent a text with a pin and more texts with survey questions. Each time a person responded to the survey questions via texts he or she was charged.”
Alexa reported that some of the web’s most popular sites were typosquatted. Scambusters.org lists some helpful tips to identify typosquatting. Some of the main uses for these sites include:
- Revenue Generating
- Transfer of Virus and/or Malware
- Phishing Scams
- Advertising Pay Per Click Scam
USA Today reported that, “most typosquatting domains lead to a bot network, used to steal passwords and obtain personal information such as financial or banking records. Bot networks aren’t obvious and can involve millions of computers.” According to TGdaily.com, it is a good idea to get into the habit of bookmarking your favorite sites to be sure that you are landing on the correct page. Sixty Four percent of the typosquatted sites are US-based. Bendelman.org compiled a list of popular domains and their typosquatted sites to compare number of daily visitors. Click here for that report.
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