Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Strider URL Tracer with Typo-Patrol
Strider URL Tracer with Typo-Patrol
This is a new tool from Microsoft that aims to save us from a new threat: typo-squatting.
I can hear the gasps now: "WHAT? More threats?"
However, it's true. What happens when you misspell the domain name you're trying to reach with your browser? Usually, it leads you to some organization's search page, may it be Microsoft or your browser or someone else. Now, that's tolerable. You realize that you screwed up and edit the URL. However, what happens if you mistype the URL AND someone has registered a domain with that mistaken URL and filled it with porn, scams, or (perhaps more seriously) a phishing site? Now you're in trouble. You're at the wrong site and you're blasted with any number of ugly exploits.
Microsoft to the rescue. They've published a free tool that will block access to these third-party sites, if instructed to. It also blocks attempts to redirect your browser away from any genuine URL's and reveals those attempts to you. I'm about to install it, so we'll just say "more later". This might not seem like a big deal, but every little bit helps!
This is a new tool from Microsoft that aims to save us from a new threat: typo-squatting.
I can hear the gasps now: "WHAT? More threats?"
However, it's true. What happens when you misspell the domain name you're trying to reach with your browser? Usually, it leads you to some organization's search page, may it be Microsoft or your browser or someone else. Now, that's tolerable. You realize that you screwed up and edit the URL. However, what happens if you mistype the URL AND someone has registered a domain with that mistaken URL and filled it with porn, scams, or (perhaps more seriously) a phishing site? Now you're in trouble. You're at the wrong site and you're blasted with any number of ugly exploits.
Microsoft to the rescue. They've published a free tool that will block access to these third-party sites, if instructed to. It also blocks attempts to redirect your browser away from any genuine URL's and reveals those attempts to you. I'm about to install it, so we'll just say "more later". This might not seem like a big deal, but every little bit helps!
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