Post by GuiltySpark on Mar 25, 2014 23:23:26 GMT
If you're reading this with some intrigue then its probably a good bet that you've never heard of it.
I know it sounds like the name given to someone who stereotypes a squatter but you couldn't be further from the truth.
In actual fact Typosquatting is the name given to a website that resembles a given website in every way except the address.
For an example of what I mean go to your URL (address bar) and type;
You'll be presented with the Google search engine.
Now again go to your URL bar and this time type;
It looks a bit like Google, at least the old google but is not associated with it in any way.
Unfortunately, cyber criminals have gotten into the habit of abusing this method by creating genuine,
authentic (all be it artificial) websites that look and feel exactly like the real thing.
Don't believe me?
Here are two Apple ID log in pages but which is Real and which is Fake?
Ok so what if I show you the same two pics again but this time I add the URL bar into the equation.
Is that easier now?
Be honest how many of you check the address bar to make sure you've landed on the legit page and everything's as it should be?
I bet there's not many of you, force of habit and all that.
The point is, it's so easy to make a simple spelling mistake and be taken to a malicious site entirely.
Here we have a malicious site that was blocked by my AV, as you can see from the URL it can be as simple as one letter difference.
So Be Safe.
Be Secure.
But above all Know and Understand the Risks
Remember "ACTURL"
I know it sounds like the name given to someone who stereotypes a squatter but you couldn't be further from the truth.
In actual fact Typosquatting is the name given to a website that resembles a given website in every way except the address.
For an example of what I mean go to your URL (address bar) and type;
www.google.com
You'll be presented with the Google search engine.
Now again go to your URL bar and this time type;
www.boogle.com
It looks a bit like Google, at least the old google but is not associated with it in any way.
Unfortunately, cyber criminals have gotten into the habit of abusing this method by creating genuine,
authentic (all be it artificial) websites that look and feel exactly like the real thing.
Don't believe me?
Here are two Apple ID log in pages but which is Real and which is Fake?
Ok so what if I show you the same two pics again but this time I add the URL bar into the equation.
Is that easier now?
Be honest how many of you check the address bar to make sure you've landed on the legit page and everything's as it should be?
I bet there's not many of you, force of habit and all that.
The point is, it's so easy to make a simple spelling mistake and be taken to a malicious site entirely.
Here we have a malicious site that was blocked by my AV, as you can see from the URL it can be as simple as one letter difference.
So Be Safe.
Be Secure.
But above all Know and Understand the Risks
Remember "ACTURL"
- Always
- Check
- The
- Uniform
- Resource
- Locator