In the News
The upcoming US Presidential election has In Over 550 Fake US Election Web Domains Discovered, Sarah Coble at InfoSecurity Magazine discusses hundreds of fake websites for both Democratic and Republican candidates that either re-directed one to an opposing candidate’s website or hosted the possibility of malware exposure. Coble explains that of the non-malicious websites that did not re-direct an individual to a rival site were frequently comical or contained jokes. Coble furthers that this recurrent issue highlights the importance of verifying users when they register for a web domain.
Our Take
While the 550 fake web domains identified for the upcoming election have a little motive behind garnering support for an opposing candidate, the prevalence of fake domains and the ease tow which they are created is cause for alarm. Not only do these fake sites provide a gateway for malware and malicious attackers to access your devices, but they also manipulate the user and their data through the site re-directing process. For many fake sites, the re-direction takes the user to a website that is vulnerable and insecure. This can, in turn, open the door for personal and financial data to become exposed. Despite the lack of regulation preventing these fake sites from being created, users must be overly cautious with what link they click, what URLs they search, and what websites actually load on their devices to ensure they are browsing intentionally.
Recommendations
How can you protect yourself from the fake website trap?
- Be intentional with your internet browsing and avoid searching for unfamiliar web domains
- Utilize additional security/privacy measures and settings on apps, accounts, and platforms whenever possible
- Refrain from entering financial information on a website you have yet to confirm is legitimate
- Stay up to date on the news regarding recent data breaches and exposures to see if you may have been affected