Typosquatting: How Your Brain Can Be Tricked by a Lookalike Domain
⚠ What is Typosquatting?
Typosquatting is a cyber tactic where attackers register domain names that look visually similar to real websites — such as adding an extra character, swapping letters, or adding hyphens — to mislead users into thinking they're on the real site.
The human brain is trained to recognize patterns quickly. This helps us read fast, but it also makes us vulnerable to digital deception. In cybersecurity, this phenomenon is known as visual spoofing or brand impersonation.
For example, imagine two websites:
realbannksecure.com ← trick
Most users won't notice the subtle difference unless they're paying close attention. This is especially dangerous when combined with similar logos, page layout, and even favicons (the small icon in the browser tab).
- Pattern Recognition: Our brain often overlooks small typos if the start and end are correct.
- Familiarity Bias: A known color scheme and logo make us trust the site faster.
- Speed Browsing: On phones and in a rush, people don’t analyze URLs carefully.
This tactic is frequently used in phishing campaigns, where users enter their login details on fake pages without realizing it.
✅ Cyber Awareness Tips
- Always double-check the spelling of domain names.
- Use bookmarks for critical sites like banking, social media, or payments.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.
- Look out for design differences, odd language, or broken links.
As ethical hackers and digital defenders, it's our job to educate others about these subtle traps. Stay alert, stay informed — and don’t let your brain fool you.
This post is for cybersecurity awareness and educational purposes only. It does not represent or impersonate any specific brand.