Don’t let the typosquatters win, businesses urged

Businesses need to be aware of the practice of typosquatting, and take steps to prevent it affecting their brands.

Also called URL hijacking, this form of cybersquatting sees the perpetrator attempt to redirect web users from legitimate domain names by relying on common spelling errors.

Should a web user accidentally type in the wrong web address, they may find them diverted to an alternative website, which could contain malware or attempt to divert business away from its intended destination.

Typosquatting carries risks in terms of brand management – if a customer is trying to reach your website but continually finds themselves diverted elsewhere, this may have a negative impact on their view of the company.

Some typosquatter websites may even attempt to replicate the design of the bona fide site, in a bid to trick customers into thinking it is real.

And this can create all sorts of problems, both for the consumer – who could find themselves scammed – and the company whose brands have been abused.

Under the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), trademark holders can file a case against typosquatters at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

This mechanism provides additional brand protection for businesses, in the event that a malicious third-party does set up a rogue website based upon their domains.

But first and foremost, they need be aware of the typosquatter websites, and this is where domain name recovery services can be a major asset.

They can help businesses identify domains under attack, recover them using UDRP procedures, transfer typosquatted domains into management and redirect traffic back to legitimate websites.