Typosquatting

Typosquatting, also known as URL hijacking, is a form of cybersquatting that relies on misspellings and typographical errors internet users make when entering a website address. An attacker will register a domain name similar to a popular website to redirect users to a malicious website or a site designed to profit from advertising revenue or the sale of counterfeit goods.

For example, a typosquatter might register "thr3atngsecurity.com" instead of "threatngsecurity.com"; when users accidentally type the wrong URL, they are redirected to the attacker's site. Phishing, the distribution of malware, and the theft of private and financial information are just a few of the negative uses of typosquatting.

Users can protect themselves from typosquatting by double-checking the spelling and accuracy of website addresses before entering them, using bookmarks or trusted search engines, and installing anti-malware software. Organizations can protect their brand and customers by registering variations of their domain name, implementing robust domain name system (DNS) security measures, and monitoring for typosquatting attempts.