Address bar spoofing

Address bar spoofing, also known as “agebar phishing”, is a technique of maliciously manipulating an internet user’s browser address bar so that it appears to be displaying information from a trusted website, when in fact it is not. The intent of this malicious practice is to fool a user into thinking that they are viewing a legitimate website, when in fact they may be visiting a page that is designed to scam them or to install malware onto their computer.

Address bar spoofing occurs when a malicious website, either through coding or browser manipulation, is able to make a new URL appear in the top of the browser address bar, even though the real URL of the website the user is visiting remains outside of the user’s view. The malicious website is then able to provide a false perception of the website the user is visiting, in a way that is similar to phishing. Instead of emails or pop-ups, attackers use the familiar URL address bar to deliver false information in order to trick users into visiting the malicious website.

Some of the possible intentions of attackers who use address bar spoofing are to steal information such as login credentials or financial data. Other malicious activities can include the installation of malware onto the target computer or the redirecting of a user to a malicious website.

To protect users from falling victim to address bar spoofing, it is recommended that they should always check the URL of an unknown website before providing any personal or financial information. HTTPS checkout pages and secured websites are also a better choice, as they generally are protected from spoofing and any malicious attempts. Additionally, users should keep their software up to date, as this is one of the best ways to prevent any form of malicious attacks or exploits.