Spoofing is when someone pretends to be someone else or an organization to gain access to sensitive information. Spoofing software can change addresses like MAC, IP, email, SMS, and DNS. Spoofing websites can be done by copying pages or registering a similar web address. IP spoofing can be detected by network analysis software and prevented by filtering routers and firewalls. DNS server spoofing is the most sophisticated attack and can lead to widespread consequences.
In the computer world, spoofing refers to identity theft, when a person masquerades as another individual or as an organization or business in order to gain access to sensitive personal information, including usernames and passwords, information on bank account and credit card numbers. Spoofing is both part of the phishing setup and a technique for gaining direct access to an individual’s or organization’s computer or computer network. Spoofing software is software created to assist the scammer in pretending to be someone or something he is not. Understanding how spoofing software works can help people figure out how to avoid being scammed.
Spoofing is done by changing addresses. Media Access Control (MAC) addresses, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, email addresses, Short Message Service (SMS) messages, and even master Domain Name Server (DNS) addresses. Spoofing software programs have been created to make all of these masks, some of which are easier and more commonly done than others.
Spoofing websites can be done in a variety of ways. First, it can be done by making a reasonably credible copy of the publicly accessible website pages and posting them to another server. Spoofing software is available to do this, and watermarking site images can help detect this type of spoofing. Another way to do this is to register a web address that users are likely to mistype when trying to reach a legitimate site. Altering links is another method and this can be prevented by applying digital signatures to web pages.
IP spoofing can be set up by spoofing software and detected by network analysis software, also known as packet sniffing software. It’s also sometimes recognized by users who find commands on their terminal that they didn’t enter, or empty windows that they can’t control. A filtering router that prevents packets with a source address from inside the network from passing through from the outside. Properly configured firewalls can also provide protection. There is also anti-spoofing software to protect against IP spoofing attacks.
Since the Internet depends on the correct addresses associated with websites, DNS server spoofing is perhaps the most sophisticated attack potentially and could have widespread results. If spoofing software or another method is successful, any visitor who attempted to visit a site would be directed to the wrong Internet address. Such an attack was once carried out resulting in the security for DNS servers being tightened.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
