Pharming is a type of social engineering cyberattack in which criminals redirect internet users trying to reach a specific website to a different, fake site. These “spoofed” sites aim to capture a victim’s personally identifiable information (PII) and log-in credentials, such as passwords, social security numbers, account numbers, and so on, or else they attempt to install pharming malware on their computer. Pharmers often target websites in the financial sector, including banks, online payment platforms, or e-commerce sites, usually with identity theft as their ultimate objective.
TIPS TO AVOID PHARMING
• Use a reliable internet service provider which will filter out suspicious redirects for you.
• Only follow links that begin with HTTPS, not HTTP. The “s” stands for “secure” and tells you the site has a security certificate.
• Don’t click on links or open attachments from unknown senders. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in any email or message you are unsure of.
• Look for typos in URLs. Criminals will use a variety of spelling tricks to trick you into believing it is a legitimate website.
• Avoid deals that seem too good to be true – it usually is.
• Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.