CYSE 201S – Can you spot three fake websites and compare the three fake websites to three real websites, plus showcase what makes the fake websites fake?

Fake Website: BankofAmer1ca.com vs. Real Website: BankofAmerica.com This website was found in a phishing attempt, and seen when putting the cursor over the link in the email. The fake website utilizes a similar URL to the real one, but it replaces the letter “i” with the number “1” – a technique called typosquatting. Upon closer inspection, the fake site has low-quality design, misspellings, or grammar errors that the legitimate Bank of America site does not have. The real website also uses HTTPS encryption, as indicated by the padlock icon in the address bar, ensuring a secure connection between the user and the site.

Fake Website: Amaz0n-secure-login.com vs. Real Website: Amazon.com Another phishing attempt stating there is an error with my Amazon Prime Subscription, the fake website uses a deceptive URL to make users believe they are visiting a secure login page for Amazon. However, the real Amazon website doesn’t have a separate domain for logging in. The fake site may lacks visual consistency with the official site, such as different fonts, colors, or layout and sizes. The official Amazon site always uses HTTPS encryption and has a valid SSL certificate to guarantee user data protection.

Fake Website: PayPa1-security.com vs. Real Website: PayPal.com This is from quick googleing with mispelling, the fake website uses the same typosquatting technique as the first example, replacing “l” with “1”. Additionally, the fake site may have a different or outdated design compared to the legitimate PayPal website. Authentic PayPal URLs will always begin with “https://www.paypal.com/,” followed by the specific country code or a page within the main domain. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *