Typosquatting 101: Protection & Preventing Domain Spoofing

What is Typosquatting?

Typosquatting – sometimes referred to as URL hijacking – is a form of cybersquatting where bad actors register domains that are intentionally similar to legitimate websites. These domains often contain common misspellings or visually deceptive characters designed to trick users into visiting the wrong site.

Common tactics include:

Swapping or duplicating letters (e.g., gooogle.com – with an uppercase “I” instead of google.com)
Replacing Latin characters with similar-looking ones from other alphabets (a technique known as IDN homograph attacks)
Adding extra words or dashes to closely mimic trusted brands

The goal of typosquatting is to:

Steal sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card numbers
Spread malware through fake downloads or drive-by attacks
Generate revenue via misdirected ad clicks or affiliate links

Why Typosquatting is Harmful

As you can imagine, typosquatting is an increasingly common tactic used by cybercriminals to exploit user error and impersonate trusted brands. For businesses, typosquatting poses significant risks—from data breaches to reputational damage and legal issues.

Understanding how typosquatting works, and what you can do to stop it, is critical for safeguarding your digital presence.

The Typosquatting Process

Typosquatting relies on users making small mistakes when typing website URLs. Cybercriminals purchase and configure lookalike domains to intercept that traffic and carry out malicious activities. These tactics include credential harvesting, malware distribution, phishing scams, and redirecting users to malicious or fraudulent websites. When unsuspecting users land on these spoofed sites, they might enter credentials, download malware, or unknowingly share personal information.

Common Typosquatting Targets

Typosquatters typically go after high-traffic, trusted sites where users are likely to act quickly without double-checking URLs. Common targets include:

Social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
E-commerce sites like Amazon, PayPal, and eBay
Financial institutions such as banks and credit card providers
Government agencies like the IRS or DMV

These domains carry built-in trust, making them ideal for phishing and fraud.

Real-World Examples of Typosquatting

Typosquatting isn’t just theoretical—it’s already affecting major brands:

In 2019, an Australian domain registrar was found guilty of typosquatting well-known companies like McDonald’s and Nike. They created fake versions of the companies’ domains to collect user information.

In another case, cybercriminals used Cyrillic characters to mimic an Italian fashion brand’s URL. The site looked identical to the real one, tricking visitors into entering payment info.

More recently, the crypto world has been a target, with a study showing how scammers exploit tiny typos to trick people into sending funds to unintended crypto wallets.

Impact on Users and Businesses

The consequences of typosquatting go beyond just redirecting web traffic. These attacks can lead to severe financial loss, legal consequences, and permanent reputational damage. They include:

Phishing and data theft: Fake login pages can steal usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers.
Malware infections: Users may unknowingly download malicious software that compromises their devices.
Loss of customer trust: Even one successful attack can undermine years of brand reputation.
Legal costs and lost revenue: Companies may face lawsuits, regulatory penalties, and decreased sales due to user hesitation.

Typosquatting Protection Strategies

Preventing typosquatting requires a proactive approach—these strategies can help minimize risk and keep your brand protected.

Register Common Misspellings

Buy domains that closely resemble your primary domain – including common typos and variations – to reduce the risk of impersonation.

Monitor Domain Registrations

Use domain monitoring tools to detect lookalike registrations in real time. Catching them early helps you take action before damage is done.

Educate Employees and Customers

Teach your team and customers how to spot spoofed URLs and suspicious websites. Awareness is a powerful layer of protection.

Strengthen Email Security

Deploy anti-phishing filters and spam detection to block email campaigns that rely on spoofed domains.

Tools for Identifying Typosquatting Domains

Detecting typosquatting early is key to reducing potential damage. The tools below can help you monitor, identify, and respond to suspicious domains before they impact your business.

Automated scanners: Perform WHOIS and DNS lookups to detect similar domains
Social listening tools: Track brand mentions and variations across platforms like X (Twitter), Facebook, and forums
Manual search: Regularly search for brand and domain variations in Google to catch fraud attempts early
Takedown services: Use a service that can initiate domain takedowns for confirmed malicious sites

Legal Strategies for Fighting Typosquatting

Legal action is a powerful recourse:

File a UDRP complaint: Submit a claim under ICANN’s Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy to challenge domain ownership
Use the ACPA: The Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act allows businesses to sue typosquatters for up to $100,000 per domain
Send cease-and-desist letters: Sometimes, a formal warning is enough to shut down fraudulent activity quickly

How Bolster Can Help

Bolster’s Domain Monitoring solution helps businesses stay ahead of domain-based threats like typosquatting, brand impersonation, and phishing attacks. Our technology combines proactive monitoring with takedown capabilities to protect your digital assets and reduce security costs.

With Bolster, you get: