Typosquatting, also called URL hijacking, is a form of cybersquatting which relies on mistakes such as typographical errors made by Internet users when inputting a website address into a web browser. Should a user accidentally enter an incorrect website address, they may be led to an alternative website owned by a cybersquatter.

The typosquatter’s URL will usually be one of four kinds, all similar to the victim site address:
(In the following, the intended website is “example.com”)

• A common misspelling, or foreign language spelling, of the intended site: exemple.com
• A misspelling based on typing errors: xample.com or examlpe.com
• A differently phrased domain name: examples.com
• A different top-level domain: example.org

Once in the typosquatter’s site, the user may also be tricked into thinking that they are in fact in the real site; through the use of copied or similar logos, website layouts or content.

Alternatively, the user will be forwarded to a site of a completely different nature from what they intended.