What Is Typosquatting?
Typosquatting, also known as URL hijacking, is a form of cyberattack in which hackers target internet users who incorrectly type a URL into their web browser rather than using a search engine.
What Makes Typosquatting So Dangerous?
Typosquatting is dangerous because even a small spelling slip can open the door to a wide range of threats. Once a user lands on one of these fake sites, attackers can launch phishing scams to steal personal or financial information and even infect devices with malware. They can also capture login credentials through fake sign-in pages, or flood visitors with malicious ads. It can be difficult to identify typosquatting websites as they are designed to mimic the real one closely. All it takes is one wrong character, and victims can unknowingly hand over sensitive data or compromise their device's security.
How Does Typosquatting Work?
Typosquatting follows some predictable steps. Here’s a breakdown of what generally happens;
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Domain Registration
The attacker registers a domain name that's a close variation of the legitimate one, often using a common spelling mistake or alternative domain extension.
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Building The Malicious Site
They create a fake website designed to look almost identical to the trusted one.
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Waiting For The Mistake
Users accidentally mistype the authentic URL in their browser, leading them to the fraudulent website.
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Executing The Attack
Once on the fake site, users may unknowingly enter passwords, download malware, or click on dangerous links, handing over valuable data.
What Are The Types Of Typosquatting?
Typosquatting isn’t limited to just misspelled domains, it comes in many forms. Here are some of the most common tactics attackers use to create deceptive lookalike domains.
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Character Omission (Missing Letters): Removes a character from the legitimate domain.
- Real Domain: netflix[.]com
- Fake Domain: netfix[.]com
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Character Substitution (Wrong Letters): Replace characters with ones that look similar.
- Real Domain: dropbox[.]com
- Fake Domain: dr0pbox[.]com
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Character Transposition (Swapped Letters): Two adjacent characters are switched.
- Real Domain: google[.]com
- Fake Domain: goolge[.]com
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Homograph Attacks (Look-Alike Characters) : Uses characters from different alphabets that visually look the same.
- Real Domain: microsoft[.]com
- Fake Domain: mircosoft[.]com
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Subdomain Typosquatting: Add fake subdomains to mimic trusted sites.
- Real Domain: amazon[.]com
- Fake Domain: amazon[.]com[.]login-now[.]com
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Different Domain Extensions (TLD Squatting): Registering the same name but under a different domain extension.
- Real Domain: linkedin[.]com
- Fake Domain: linkedin[.]xyz
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Hyphenation Variants: Insert or remove hyphens.
- Real Domain: facebook[.]com
- Fake Domain: face-book[.]com
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Pluralization and Singularization: Add or remove a "s".
- Real Domain: paypal[.]com
- Fake Domain: paypals[.]com
What Happens If You Fall For Typosquatting?
Typosquatting exposes victims to security threats for both organizations and individuals. These fake domains often serve as the starting point for attacks that can cause significant damage and often lead to long-term consequences that are harder to reverse. Here are some of the biggest risks that come with falling for typosquatting:
Brand Damage & Customer Trust
If a customer fall victim to typosquatting sites impersonating a real company, their trust quickly fades. Even if the business isn’t responsible, its reputation can still take a serious hit.
Malware & Network Compromise
Typosquatting often installs malware that steals data, infects devices and monitors user activity, and sometimes spreads across corporate networks, causing disruptions to operations and extensive downtime.
Financial & Legal Consequences
Victims may suffer financial losses from fraudulent transactions or face regulatory penalties if customer or business data is compromised.
Data Theft And Identity Fraud
Attackers steal personal information that can be used for identity theft, account takeovers, or sold on the dark web for further exploitation.
Who Is Most At Risk From Typosquatting Attacks?
The truth is, anyone can be a victim, typosquatting doesn't discriminate. Everyone makes mistakes, and all it takes is one slip of the finger. That’s why typosquatters register domain names within close range of the letters on the keyboard. For example, typosquatters have registered foogle[.]com because the "f" key is next to the "g" key for google[.]com. Attackers deliberately register domain names that capitalize on people making mistakes.
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Play now!How Can You Spot Typosquatting?
It can be challenging to spot typosquatting as they can look like a clone of the trusted site, but if you know the subtle telltale signs to look out for, you can identify them before they cause any damage. Below are some simple but valuable tips to help you spot a typosquatted website;
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Double Check The URL
Pay close attention to the spelling of the domain name, as attackers are sneaky and often add, swap, or replace characters.
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Look For HTTPS And Secure Connections
Most verified websites have a valid security certificate and use HTTPS to encrypt your connection. While this is a general rule of thumb, it's not always the case, as hackers can also get certificates, but the absence of HTTPS is usually a red flag.
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Watch For Odd Designs Or Errors
Credited sites typically maintain a high standard of quality and attention to detail. Typosquatted sites, on the other hand, may display missing logos, broken links, poor grammar and low-quality images, issues that reputable businesses would not usually overlook.
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Be Cautious Of Pop-Ups And Ads
Typosquatted websites can be inundated with aggressive and frequent ads. Unexpected downloads can also point to a malicious website but if anything feels off, trust your instincts.
How Can Businesses Protect Themselves?
One of the best ways businesses can defend against typosquatting is by securing domains before attackers do. That means registering common misspellings and close alternatives of the company’s name. The more variations a business owns, the fewer opportunities attackers have to exploit simple typing mistakes. It’s impossible to cover every single option, but locking down the most obvious ones can go a long way in reducing the risk. Businesses should also educate their employees about the dangers of typosquatting and how to avoid landing on malicious sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Laws Against Typosquatting?
Yes, and for good reason. Typosquatting isn't just shady, it breaks trademark and domain laws. Depending on your country, if someone registers a domain that looks like a well-known brand to scam users or make a profit, the real owner has legal options to fight back through trademark claims, cybersquatting laws, and domain dispute processes.
What’s The Difference Between Typosquatting And Cybersquatting?
While both involve registering a domain name, the tactics and intent differ. Typosquatting targets typing mistakes, whereas cybersquatting is about claiming brand-related domains to sell them back to the rightful owner at a profit, for example, nike-shoe-sale.com. One exploits human error, and the other holds domains for ransom.