What is Pharming?
Pharming is very similar to phishing, as it attempts to gain access to your confidential information through spoofing. The difference is that pharming does not use malicious emails to try to fool you going to an illegitimate site. Rather, pharming is more dangerous because it redirects Internet users from legitimate Web sites to malicious ones using a strategy called DNS cache poisoning. The “Pharmer” inconspicuously hijacks your computer and takes you to a copycat Web site. The site it takes you to is most commonly a page that looks identical to that of your bank or financial institution. From this point, they ask you to submit your vital passwords and financial information which go straight into their databanks. The process can be compared to switching a street sign on a driver in a new city, sending them down the wrong street. Similarly it can also be compared to switching the names connected to phone numbers in a phone book, when a user goes to look up a name, they end up calling the wrong number.
For example, when a user types a URL, such as www.google.com, into their Internet browser, a request goes to a local DNS (Domain Name System) server, which then locates the registered IP (Internet Protocol) address for the Web server. When a hacker poisons a DNS server, they change the IP address for a domain and send visitors to a completely different Web site, usually without the user’s knowledge.
How to Identify a Pharming Scam
One way to check to see if the site you have been directed to is real is to look for the gold lock icon, usually located in the bottom right corner of your browser’s screen. If the icon does appear, click on it to verify a secure connection. However, keep in mind that the lock does not “guarantee” security. It is only a temporary security solution as there is no telling when the hackers will be able to perfect this icon to look legit.
Who is at Risk?
Anyone who uses the Internet and has online banking, credit card, and shopping accounts are at risk to pharming attacks.
Recommended Action
Anonymizer’s online identity protection solutions protect users against pharming attacks by routing all customer Internet traffic through the Company’s protected DNS servers. In order to ensure that you are always protected, a privacy software such as Anonymizer Anonymous Surfing will secure your online safety.
Anonymizer Anonymous Surfing
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