The word “pharming” comes from the combination of phishing and farming, and refers to a cyber scam in which website traffic is manipulated and confidential information is stolen.
This type of scam does not require the victim to do anything to fall for the attack, which is a clear advantage for cybercriminals. Read on to learn more about what it involves and some tips to protect yourself from this fraud.
What is Pharming?
It is a cyberattack similar to phishing, in which malicious code is used to change IP address information, causing internet users who want to access a specific website to be redirected to a different—and of course, fake—website.
On these fake sites, criminals ask users to enter their personal data with the goal of capturing their personally identifiable information and credentials, such as passwords or account numbers. They may also use it to install malware on the device.
Usually, the financial sector—such as banks or e-commerce sites where monetary exchanges occur—are the main targets of criminals who carry out this scam.
One of the advantages of pharming is that criminals don’t need to convince victims to click a link in an email or a fake ad; the malicious code simply downloads onto the computer without the victim doing anything.
Difference Between Phishing and Pharming
If you’re wondering how it differs from phishing, you should know that phishing is a type of scam that acquires personal information through fake emails designed to look legitimate. The goal is to make victims think the messages are real and click on a link in a fraudulent email.
On the other hand, pharming involves creating fake websites that steal sensitive information without users doing anything—they are simply redirected to malicious sites without even knowing it.
Tips to Protect Yourself from a Pharming Attack
Although many pharming attacks are almost unpredictable, you can keep some recommendations in mind to stay alert:
– Make sure the URL of the site you visit is written correctly. It’s common for letters or symbols in the URL to be changed.
– Ensure the website doesn’t have obvious errors such as spelling mistakes, altered logos, or unrecognized colors.
– Check that your connection is secure. A very simple first step is to see if the site is using “https.” If it uses “http,” the connection is likely not secure.
– Activate a strong antivirus program. The best way to protect yourself is to use a reliable antivirus that acts against this type of scam.
