Pharming is a cyber attack where legitimate website traffic is redirected to fraudulent sites without the user's knowledge. Unlike phishing, which relies on user action, pharming can affect users even when they correctly type a website's address.
Attack Methods
- DNS cache poisoning
- Host file modification
- Router configuration changes
- Domain hijacking
- Server compromise
Technical Components
- DNS server manipulation
- Local system infection
- Network device exploitation
- Domain name spoofing
- SSL certificate fraud
Warning Signs
- Certificate errors
- Unusual login pages
- Different site appearance
- Slow loading times
- Connection warnings
Prevention Measures
- DNSSEC implementation
- Regular security updates
- SSL certificate verification
- Network monitoring
- DNS security
Protection Steps
- Verify HTTPS connections
- Check security certificates
- Use trusted DNS servers
- Keep systems updated
- Monitor for changes
Pharming attacks are particularly dangerous as they can affect multiple users simultaneously and are harder to detect than traditional phishing attempts.