PHARMING

Pharming is a hacker's attack intended to redirect a website's traffic to another, bogus site.
Pharming can be conducted either by changing the hosts file on a victim's computer or by
exploitation of a vulnerability in DNS server software. DNS servers are computers responsible for
resolving Internet names into their real IP addresses. Compromised DNS servers are sometimes
referred to as "poisoned". Pharming requires unprotected access to target a computer, such as
altering a customer's home computer, rather than a corporate business server.
Pharming has become of major concern to businesses hosting ecommerce and online
banking websites. Sophisticated measures known as anti-pharming are required to protect against
this serious threat. Antivirus software and spyware removal software cannot protect against
pharming.
How to tackle Phishing and Pharming
1. Do not disclose passwords, pin numbers, net banking user-id & pass words.
2. No bank will request for passwords thru e-mail
3. Never click the link
4. Enter the URL in the address bar
5. Check the status bar of the browser for actual address
6. Use anti-pharming, anti virus, anti-spyware& update regularly
7. Change online passwords periodically
8. Check bank statements regularly
9. Online shopping only with known & reputable merchants
10. Read privacy policies before you agree