Cyber Squatting

Cybersquatting is a kind of cybercrime in which the criminal purchases or registers a domain name that is identical to or similar to an already existing domain name with the approach of making money off of a well-known brand, business name, or individual name. The offending party shall register, sell, or use in any other way an unregistered internet domain that bears a protected brand or service mark. Using the goodwill of customers to your advantage is the aim of this action.

Most significantly, the actions are illegal due to the criminal’s bad faith intention. Owners of trademarks or copyrights sometimes fail to reregister their domain names, which makes it simple for cyber squatters to take advantage of this crucial update.

What is Cyber Squatting?

Cyber Squatting is the operation of registering or utilizing a domain name to make money off of a brand name, company name, or individual’s name. A domain that has been purchased by a cyber squatter is either unusable, indicates that the website is under development, or forwards or advertises to a rival. I could also know where to find the domain for sale.

As per the definition provided, domain squatting happens as a kind of extortion or as an attempt to steal business from a rival. Advertisers who duplicate domain names that are related to well-known, regularly visited websites are also engaged in cybersquatting. Cybercrimes appear in many forms, one of which is cybersquatting.

Is Cybersquatting illegal?

Cybersquatting is the illegal registration of a domain name by a party not entitled to it by law or without having a registered trademark in its favor.

To resolve a cybersquatting issue, a business or trademark owner may decide to communicate with the infringer and compensate them to obtain ownership of the domain name. On the other hand, it is now feasible to establish a case against the squatter and pursue the criminal offense due to the existence of certain statutory tools.

Types of Cyber Squatting

Below are some types of cybersquatting

• Name Jacking: The registration of a domain name associated with a person’s name, usually a celebrity or other well-known public figure, is known as “name jacking.” Name-hackers get money from online traffic that is associated with the people they are targeting.

• Typo squatting: This is a type of web squatting that is probably most prevalent and involves deliberately misspelling domain names to imitate popular websites or brands. The unreal address can be a little modification of the real one, such as adding a hyphen or changing one letter.

• Identity Theft: Cybercriminals will create a comparable domain to steal a company’s digital identity through this kind of cybersquatting. Internet visitors may click on the incorrect link and get on the unreal website when attempting to visit the company’s website.

• Reverse Cybersquatting: As it is often called, reverse domain name hijacking, is a tactic used by hackers to enable their domain squatting by taking advantage of the current legal system. The cyber squatter will first select an existing website to attack to carry out this crime.

Impact of Cyber Squatting on Businesses

• Cybersquatting may cause fraud, data theft, or other forms of harm to customers of a legitimate firm. This puts the business in danger of facing legal issues or, at the very least, losing the confidence of the public and investors.

• Without even needing to breach a company’s Domain Name System (DNS) to take control of the site, cyber squatters may create a website that looks identical to engage with its target audiences since they mimic its URL.

• Even more disturbing is the possibility that an employee clicks on a link in an email that appears to have been sent by the company.

• In the company’s networks, employees may be exposed to malware or malicious infiltration.

Preventions Against Cyber Squatting

• Type the URL: When accessing a certain website, type the URL to make sure it is the right one. Be careful to look for any typos or spelling flaws that might lead to a cybersquatting website instead.

• Avoid opening suspicious emails or links: Refrain from clicking on doubtful emails or links since they may be phishing attempts that go to websites that squat on domain names. If required, launch a new window and enter the URL to visit the concerned website straight away.

• Check the website: Look for anything that doesn’t seem to belong in the functioning and design of the website. A lot of URL squatting websites feature a lot of pop-ups and adverts, automated downloads, and unwanted redirection all the time.

• Install antivirus software: In addition to blocking dangerous domains, a good antivirus program also has web protection that may stop malicious and phishing websites.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned about Cyber Squatting. It states that domain squatting happens as a kind of extortion or as an attempt to steal business from a rival. It is possible, that a domain was registered with the best of intentions. In this case, it wouldn’t be recognized as cybersquatting.

Frequently Asked Questions on Cyber Squatting – FAQs

How can cybersquatting be recognized?

First, determine if the domain name leads to a website. If it doesn’t direct you to an operational website.

What is identity theft in cybersquatting?

By buying them and building websites, Cyber squatters commonly utilise expired domain names to their benefit that are identical replicas of the original websites.

What kind of cybercrime is cybersquatting?

The act of registering and utilizing Internet domain names that are confusingly convenient to or identical to service marks, trademarks, business names, or personal names is known as cybersquatting.

What is another word for cybersquatting?

Cybersquatting is further known as domain squatting. It is a cybercrime that is comparable to typosquatting.

What is the punishment for cybersquatting?

There is no appropriate law in India that penalizes cyber squatters. Customers’ minds are clouded by cyber squatters, who benefit from this misunderstanding.