Drive-by pharming threat for broadband users
Posted 22 February 2007 at 9:49AM by Alexa Williamson in Internet security
Sometimes on the Net it seems like a new day always brings a new security threat. Have you heard about 'drive-by pharming' yet?
'Pharming', as you may know, is when you are unknowingly redirected from a legitimate website to a fake one that contains malicious code. Pharming attacks are carried out either by changing the host file on your PC or manipulating a domain name system (DNS) server.
Drive-by pharming happens when hackers use a malicious website to remotely reconfigure your broadband router and DNS settings, unless your router is password protected. And, according to experts, the only way of protecting yourself from a drive-by attack is to make sure you have a router password in place - anti-threat software doesn't protect you.
For example, if a hacker is able to reconfigure your routers DNS setting and you then visit a site that holds your financial details, he could redirect the site to his own server in order to steal your money.
Further reading:
- Drive-by Pharming (CBRonline.com)
- Symantec warns of new security threat (Playfuls.com)
Tags: drive-by pharming
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