Domain name hijacks 'divert traffic'

Cybersquatting can damage a company's brand and reputation, which may result in significant business losses, it has been reported.

Malicious websites are set up by criminals, who copy the entire site to collect usernames and passwords.

However, many businesses find it difficult to know which cybersquatters to pursue or indeed, could even ignore the problem, Computer World claimed.

One of the problems of cyber criminals taking over domain names is that traffic is directed away from the brand owner's site, or, potential and current customers could even be diverted to competitors' products.

"Trademark holders have responded to the problem by buying up 'defensive' domain names so that cybersquatters can't use them, hiring monitoring services, pursuing violators through the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy process, and, increasingly, taking cybersquatters to court," the publication noted.

However, smaller firms which do not have the resources to follow these options may find it more difficult to deal with domain name cybersquatters.

One domain name which could soon no longer be at risk from criminals is .yu.

Google has reminded businesses that from September, the .yu domain name will stop working.

Written by Debra Hastings-Henry