A look-alike domain (or similar domain) refers to a domain that closely resembles the original domain, either in its form or spelling. Such similar domains are often used in impersonation (spoofing) and phishing attacks. Attackers commonly create domains that mimic trusted companies, brands, or websites and use them to send emails or set up webpages in an attempt to gain the user’s trust. Using these similar domains increases the likelihood that users may fall into malicious activities without receiving warnings.
For example, if the original domain is “example.com,” an attacker might create a similar domain like “examp1e.com” or “exarnple.com” with similar spellings to send phishing emails. When users receive such emails, it can be challenging to detect the differences from the original domain, making them vulnerable to potential harm.