Typosquatting

Wikipedia.org defines Typosquatting as a form of cybersquatting which relies on mistakes such as typographical errors made by Internet users when inputting a website address into a web browser. When a user accidentally inputs a misspelled web address, chances are that they may be driven on a bad lane to a cybersquatter’s website. In simple terms, Typosquatting is the same as hijacking someone’s URL.                

This is easily accomplished through simple typing mistakes done by an internet user. For example, the site you want to visit is “www.noneuser.com”, a typosquatter’s web address would be something like “www.noneusers.com”. Typosquatters take advantage of misspelling, rephrasing and sometimes they purchase a name with top-level domain similar to targeted website. Such a top-level website address would be like “www.noneuser.net”. Without a proper check, the user think that they are in safe hands and start their business with all the peace in their mind.

By use of sophisticated software and skill, typosquatters are able to imitate the real website with its layout, content and functionalities so that the internet users are fooled into thinking that they are visiting the real site. Some of the big and famous websites have fallen victims in this way. This method enables them to win the confidence of visitors/customers who eventually can reveal their personal information by thinking that they are conducting business with a legitimate site.

Great care and vigilance should be taken when typing web addresses of the sites we want to visit so that users are not fooled into falling prey to cybercriminals or else, we risk losing our valuable information.