Understanding and Preventing Doppelgänger Domain Attacks: A Cybersecurity Essential

In today’s digital world, email-based cyberattacks are a prevalent and persistent threat. Around 90% of all cyberattacks start with email. Securing email is a critical first line of defense in protecting your company. One particularly dangerous email attack method that cybercriminals use is doppelgänger domains.

What Is a Doppelgänger Domain?

A doppelgänger domain, sometimes called a “typosquatting domain”, is a fake domain name designed to closely mimic a legitimate one, with only minor, often hard-to-detect differences. The goal is to trick unsuspecting users into believing they are interacting with a trusted source. For example, instead of the domain containing the word “business”, an attacker might register a domain like “bussiness.com” (with an extra “s”) or even use a different top-level domain like .co instead of .com. One example we saw recently was a case where a domain containing word “law” was replaced by “lavv”. This subtle change went unnoticed, leading to a fraudulent wire transfer.

How Do Cybercriminals Use Doppelgänger Domains?

Cybercriminals use these domains to create fraudulent email addresses and impersonate legitimate businesses. Once they’ve set up these look-alike domains, they send phishing emails to employees, partners, or customers in an attempt to steal money or sensitive information.

Common goals of these attacks:

1. Gaining Access to Office 365 Accounts: Cybercriminals may attempt to get recipients to click on malicious links or attachments, leading them to login pages that appear legitimate. Once they gain access to an Office 365 account, they can cause significant damage by stealing sensitive data.
2. Intercepting Payments or Invoices: Attackers often aim to inject themselves into financial transactions, either by altering the recipient’s payment details in an invoice or diverting wire transfers to fraudulent accounts.
3. Fraudulent Orders: Cybercriminals can place large orders for products and have them delivered to fraudulent addresses. Once the goods are sent, it’s nearly impossible to recover the loss.
4. Gain Access to Your Network: Attackers will use malicious attachments or links to download hacking software onto your computer. They will then attack your local systems looking to steal sensitive data, encrypt your computers, and hold your company for ransom.

The Consequences of Doppelgänger Domain Fraud

The financial and reputational consequences of a Business Email Compromise (BEC) attack facilitated by a doppelgänger domain can be devastating. Here’s what your business could face:

1. Financial Losses: BEC attacks have led to billions of dollars in losses globally, as fraudulent wire transfers can happen before the scam is detected.
2. Data Breach Risks: In some cases, attackers use fraudulent domains to steal sensitive data, which can then be used for further exploitation or sold on the dark web.
3. Brand Damage: When customers, partners, or vendors fall victim to these scams, your brand’s reputation can take a serious hit, as people lose trust in the security and legitimacy of your communications.
4. Legal and Compliance Issues: Depending on the nature of the fraud, businesses could face legal consequences for failing to secure their digital presence and protect stakeholders.

How to Protect Your Business From Doppelgänger Domain Attacks

The good news is that there are proactive steps your business can take to defend against these types of attacks. We recommend registering potential doppelgänger domains before cybercriminals can use them against you. Here’s a step-by-step guide to safeguarding your business:

1. Audit Similar Domains: Run a report to identify domain names that are similar to your business’s legitimate domain. This includes variations with misspellings, alternate top-level domains (such as .net or .co), and visual similarities (like replacing a lowercase “L, l” with an uppercase “I, i”). Another example is “rn” instead of “m”.
2. Register Doppelgänger Domains: Once you identify the domains that cybercriminals could use to impersonate your business, register them yourself. By owning these similar domains, you prevent attackers from utilizing them for malicious purposes. While registering multiple domains may cost you a few hundred dollars per year, it acts as simple insurance against a potentially devastating cyberattack.
3. Monitor for New Threats: Continuously monitor for new doppelgänger domains that could pop up over time. Cybercriminals are constantly adapting their tactics, so regular audits and monitoring are key.
4. Use Auditing Tools: 4BIS Cyber Security offers tools that can help businesses audit their domains for potential threats. By using these tools, you can automate the process of identifying and managing doppelgänger domains, giving you peace of mind that your business is protected.
5. User Education: Train your employees on how to spot unusual domains. End users are the first line of defense. They can be a great asset with the proper training.
6. Have Robust Cyber Security: Place a safety net below your users to limit the risks of clicking on bad links and attachments. Contact us to have a conversation about how 4BIS can help secure your data.

Why Protecting Against Doppelgänger Domains Is Worth the Investment

Yes, it may cost a few hundred dollars to register multiple domains, but when you consider the potential financial and reputational damage that a successful cyberattack could inflict, the cost is relatively small. Doppelgänger domain attacks are not only a financial threat but can also erode trust between your business and its clients or partners.

By taking the steps outlined above, you’ll be safeguarding your business from one of the most common and dangerous forms of email-based fraud. It’s a simple form of insurance that can save your company from significant headaches down the road.

Final Thoughts

Doppelgänger domains are a powerful tool in the hands of cybercriminals, but with the right strategies, you can stay one step ahead. Conduct regular domain audits, register look-alike domains, and work with cybersecurity experts like 4BIS Cyber Security to ensure that your business remains secure in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Contact us today at 4BIS Cyber Security to discuss how we can help protect your business from doppelgänger domain attacks. We can help audit your domain for potential doppelgänger domains and help secure your data.