Windows and Android users have been urged to be aware of criminals infiltrating popular websites and apps as part of a large-scale cyber campaign, experts have warned.
Hackers are using deliberately misspelt domains for some of the world's most popular websites including payment site PayPal and video sharing giant TikTok. This type of hacking is known as "typosquatting" and the attack is "malicious", according to Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN.
Reports of cyber crime have skyrocketed as hackers constantly conjure up new ways to target innocent victims. Some disguise these vicious bugs as other apps, which can steal personal login details of online profiles, while others have the ability to drain bank accounts.
As reported by Wales Online, Marijus said: "The scale of this malicious cyber campaign is worrying, and anyone using Windows or Android operating systems needs to be on their mettle.
"While many forms of hacking like phishing rely on tempting users into mistakes, this method anticipates consumer errors as a starting point."
The cyber security expert continued: "With typosquatting, cyber attackers set out to profit from finger slips and the incorrect spelling of well-known businesses and tools online.
"Bad actors can register multiple domains using slight variations of a company name like PayPal or TikTok then imitate that website and wait for unwary visitors to connect.
"While visiting the site itself may not do any damage, these spoofed versions are likely to be laced with malware - leaving Windows and Android users particularly vulnerable. They are set up to steal the credentials of users who interact with it."
Marijus advised users how not to fall victim to hacking, adding: "To avoid the risk of falling for this scam, it's worth using a search engine to find a website rather than typing directly into the address bar. This should return the correct site name as its top hit, even if you misspelt it.
"Threat protection software can also highlight any malicious websites before you click on them."
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