Learn how cybercriminals use look-alike characters to deceive users and steal sensitive information. Discover practical strategies to identify and defend against these sophisticated attacks.
Homoglyph attacks exploit characters that look identical or very similar to legitimate ones, creating deceptive URLs, emails, and documents that appear trustworthy.
Legitimate: google.com
Malicious: gооgle.com
The second URL uses Cyrillic 'о' characters instead of Latin 'o'
These attacks are nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye, making them extremely dangerous.
Follow these essential security practices to defend against homoglyph attacks and stay safe online.
Always verify the SSL certificate details. Legitimate sites have proper certificates from trusted authorities.
Look for unusual characters, extra letters, or domains that seem "off" even if they look legitimate.
Bookmark important sites and access them directly rather than clicking links in emails or messages.
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security even if your credentials are compromised.
Install browser extensions and security software that can detect and warn about suspicious domains.
Keep up with the latest cybersecurity threats and educate yourself about new attack methods.
Learn from actual homoglyph attacks to better recognize and avoid them in the future.
Legitimate: bank-of-america.com
Malicious: bаnk-of-america.com
Uses Cyrillic 'а' instead of Latin 'a'
Attackers sent emails with this fake domain, stealing login credentials from hundreds of users before being detected.
Legitimate: facebook.com
Malicious: facebοοk.com
Uses Greek omicron 'ο' instead of Latin 'o'
This attack collected personal information and passwords, leading to identity theft and account takeovers.