Strider URL Tracer with Typo-Patrol
Strider URL Tracer with Typo-Patrol
Strider URL Tracer with Typo-Patrol
When a user visits a Web site, her browser may be instructed to visit other third-party domains without her knowledge. Some of these third-party domains raise security, privacy, and safety concerns. The Strider URL Tracer, available for download, is a tool that reveals these third-party domains, and it includes a Typo-Patrol feature that generates and scans sites that capitalize on inadvertent URL misspellings, a process known as typo-squatting. The tool also enables parents to block typo-squatting domains that serve adult ads on typos of children's Web sites.
Strider URL Tracer alerts people when they are redirected to a third-party site, according to a description on Microsoft's research Web site. It can trace pop-up advertising back to the redirecting domains that supplied them. Parents can use it to block domains that may redirect their children to porn.
What is typo-squatting?
Typo-squatting refers to the practice of registering domain names that are typo variations of popular websites.
The risks posed by typo-squatter websites
Typo squatters are companies that exploit slips of the fingers by registering for mistyped versions of popular URLs. Some typo domains are parking lots for pay-per-click and syndicated advertising, according to a Microsoft research paper published alongside the tool. The group's researchers found that a mere six services have a presence on between 40 and 70 percent of active typo domains.
In addition to serving up ad links, typo squatters deliver pop-ups and pop-unders, and can redirect surfers to the intended domain. Often, the users are never even aware that they have visited a third-party site. As a result, many legitimate companies have been blamed for pop-ups advertising porn.
On top of this, companies may end up paying out for the advertising that leads customers to sites they were already aware of and trying to reach.
Consumers can be at risk with typo domains. Some are used in phishing scams, which mimic the look and layout of legitimate online businesses in an effort to dupe people out of personal information such as bank passwords.
Others use wrongly typed URLs for popular children's Web sites to lead surfers to porn sites, or to sites looking to exploit children.
Download page: http://research.microsoft.com/URLTracer/
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Wiz's Blog is written by Bob "Wiz" Feinberg, an experienced freelance computer consultant, troubleshooter and webmaster. Wiz's specialty is in computer and website security. 