What is the primary intent of typosquatting?

The primary intent of typosquatting is to trick visitors into believing that a site is real. Typosquatting involves registering domain names that are misspellings or variations of popular websites or brands. This tactic is often used by malicious actors to create counterfeit websites that mimic the appearance of legitimate ones. When users accidentally type the incorrect URL or misspell the name of a familiar website, they may inadvertently land on the typosquatted site. This can lead to various outcomes, such as phishing attempts, distribution of malware, or simply frustrating users who are looking for the original site.

By misleading users into thinking they are visiting a genuine site, typosquatting can result in unauthorized access to personal information, credit card details, and other sensitive data, making it a significant security risk. The effectiveness of typosquatting hinges on the trust and recognition associated with the legitimate brand, exploiting common human errors in typing web addresses.