Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Tool To Help Users Avoid Typo Domains

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the slashdot-is-not-a-typo dept.

blueZ3 writes "ZDnet is running a story on a new tool from Microsoft that aims to inform users when they reach 'typo domains'. Apparently, there's concern in Redmond that IE users are being exploited by companies running ad farms on typo domains. The tool uses an automated search routine to look for domains with particular types of typographical errors--transpositions, incorrect TLDs, missing letters--and then adds the domains to a database. The eventual goal (though this isn't clear from the article) seems to be something akin to Verisign's URL redirecting, where typo domains are blocked."

3 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. I'd be more concerned about phishing by jfengel · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Ending up at a link farm isn't any fun, but at least it's not dangerous. But you're told to type URLs from email rather than copy-and-paste, and then you risk being screwed by your own typo. Even going to your own bank is risky if you type without consciously typo-checking the URL.

  2. Oh, you mean like redirecting MikeRoweSoft.com? by Crouty · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Stupid parents to have their son's name collide with phonetics of Microsoft.

    --
    On se Internetz nobody noes your German.
  3. There is a much easier way.... by wowbagger · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There is a much easier way to block 99% of the typosquatters - they have a very small number of IP addresses they park their domains on.

    Block those IP addresses, block the squatters.

    Check it out for yourself - fire up your favorite DNS query tool, and plug in some typos.

    --
    www.eFax.com are spammers