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Paradise Computer Repair & Services
CALL US! 941-493-5126
Beware Of Cybersquatters!
Daniel Bracho • Mar 02, 2024
Beware Of Cybersquatters!
Have you ever searched for a specific website but landed on a completely different one after misspelling a letter or two in the URL? This deceptive tactic is known as cybersquatting. This practice not only jeopardizes the online presence of businesses and individuals but also poses a significant challenge in the ever-evolving landscape of cyber security. The scariest part is that you can be a victim of a cybersquatting domain and not even realize it.
Here’s what you need to know about this type of cybercrime:
What Is Cybersquatting?
Cybersquatting, also known as domain squatting, involves the malevolent act of registering a domain name that is confusingly similar to that of a legitimate entity, be it a business, organization, or individual. The primary motive behind this maneuver is often financial gain, with cybersquat aiming to exploit the recognition and success of well-known brands. However, the repercussions extend beyond monetary losses, as cybersquatting can stain the reputation of its victims.
Types Of Cybersquatting
There are many types of cybersquatting scams, but here are the most common ones you need to be aware of.
- Top-Level Domain (TLD) Exploitation:
A TLD is the final element of a domain name, such as “.com,” “.co.uk” and “.org.” Because there are so many variations, it’s difficult for small to medium-sized businesses to register all of them for their brand, and it’s even more difficult for celebrities or famous individuals.
Cybercriminals will register matching domains using different TLDs and either create offensive or inappropriate websites, requesting the original domain owner to pay them to take them down, or they will use these websites to gain customers’ trust and make them susceptible to phishing attacks. - Typo squatting: This cybersquatting involves intentionally registering misspelled domain names to capitalize on common typos, leading unsuspecting users to malicious sites.
If you take Facebook.com, for example, here’s how a cybersquatter might buy their domains:
● Faecbook.com
● Facebokk.com
● Faceboook.com
Typos are easy to make, so misspelled domains can generate a lot of traffic.
- Look-Alike Cybersquatting: This form involves creating domains with common words added to mislead customers, even if they aren’t confusingly similar at first glance.
Here are a few examples:
Original: Google.com
Lookalike: G00gle.com
Original: Amazon.com
Lookalike: amaz0n.com or amazon1.com
Original: Microsoft.com
Lookalike: Microsofty.com
Looking at these, you might not think they’d easily trick users, but they still do!
How To Avoid Being A Cybersquatting Victim?
You can avoid being a cybersquatting victim by taking a proactive approach. Here are a few steps to take:
- Register Your Trademark: To benefit from the full protection of the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) and Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), it can be helpful to register your trademark early. These regulations will still apply if a cybercriminal registers a cybersquatting domain name and you have an unregistered trademark; however, you’ll need to prove you were using it for business before the domain was registered. Trademarks aren’t required, but they can make this easier.
- Invest In Multiple Prominent TLDs: When you register your domain, also register it with the most popular TLDs, like .co and .org.
- Be Cautious Of What Websites You Visit: When typing URLs into the address bar, double-check to ensure you’re going to the correct website.
This applies to links you click too! Hover over links with your mouse to confirm it is correct. For extra security, skip clicking links and type them into the search bar.
Cybersquatting is only one method hackers use to cause chaos. Cybercriminals are constantly developing new ways to scam businesses and individuals alike. If you want to double down on security to ensure you and your company are protected from sneaky attackers, we can help.
We’ll conduct a FREE, no-obligation Security Risk Assessment to examine your network security solutions to identify if and where you’re vulnerable to an attack and help you create a plan of action to ensure you’re protected. Click here to book a 10-minute Discovery Call with our team to get started.
Horror stories of people getting scammed out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars aren’t in short supply. As we scroll through the news app from the comfort of our couch, reading these accounts of how a stupid so-and-so opened a suspicious attachment and a hacker drained their bank account, it’s easy to say things like, “I’d never fall for that!” But would you?
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In today's digital age, small-medium businesses (SMBs) face many challenges when managing their IT infrastructure. From cybersecurity threats to software updates and technical glitches, the world of technology can sometimes feel like a maze. That's where IT Managed Services Providers (MSPs) come into play, serving as the guiding light that helps SMBs navigate the complexities of IT management. In this article, we'll break down what an IT-managed services provider is and how it can support SMBs daily, all while emphasizing the importance of having local representation.
So, What is an IT Managed Services Provider?
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In today’s blog, we’ve outlined 6 of the most common technology problems small business owners face regularly and how you can either avoid or resolve them.
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2. Lack of Strategic IT Planning
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“Know Ye That We Have Granted and Given License to Adam Robernolt and William le Sauvage…to annoy our enemies by sea or by land, wheresoever they can, so that they share with us the half of all their gain.”
These were the words of King Henry III of England as he issued one of the first letters of marque, effectively employing private sailors to bolster his naval power and fill the royal coffers, all under the guise of lawful privateering. This clever maneuver financed the kingdom’s ambitions and paved the way for the discovery and plunder of new worlds, all at the expense of England’s adversaries.
You are about to read a real story showing how a business can be devastated by cybercriminals in the blink of an eye.
Most importantly, I’ll share several ways this could have been avoided. Remember to forward this to anyone making online payments and, better yet, your entire staff. The name of the company and principals has been withheld so they don’t become a further target.
$43,000 Gone in The Blink of An Eye!
I get it—it's already passed, but each year, on February 1st, we celebrate Change Your Password Day. While it’s not a holiday that gets you off work, it is a good opportunity each year to do a quick check-in and ensure you’re using strong passwords to protect your accounts.
Does not matter if it already passed; you can always have a belated celebration!
The suggested ‘rule’ used to be to change your password every three months. With advanced tools like password managers and data encryption, experts now say the type of password you use is more important than how often you create a new one. We’re sharing up-to-date advice on how to make a strong password that will keep your account secure and hackers guessing.
Gone are the days when phones were simple devices used to make calls. Today, our phones are advanced, handheld supercomputers that can do everything from paying a bill to ordering lunch for delivery, editing videos, and more.
But with more capabilities come more risks. Because our phones are computers connected to the Internet, they are susceptible to the same security risks as any other computer. Worse yet, personal devices often contain private information like bank account numbers, which, if accessed by the wrong person, could result in dangerous and expensive problems like drained bank accounts, identity theft, etc. Still, despite the obvious risks, most people do not treat phones like the security threats they pose, making them easy, no-brainer targets for cybercriminals.
The year 2023 marked a significant turning point for cyber-attacks with the introduction and wide proliferation of AI (artificial intelligence). AI is now in the hands of people who wish to do you harm and who are actively using it to find faster and easier ways to rob you, extort you, or burn your business to the ground.
As we write this, we know there’s a tendency to shrug and accept the “we’re all going to get hacked anyway” mantra to avoid dealing with it. Further, like overhyped weather reports, it’s also tempting to ignore the warning signs, thinking all this is just fearmongering rhetoric designed to sell stuff.
