Are You Visiting the Real Website? The Hidden World of Pharming Attacks and the Simple Ways to Stay Safe

Ever have that sinking feeling something’s off with a website? For example, you type in your online banking URL, only to see weird fonts or outdated brand colors on the login page. If you’ve experienced this, welcome to the world of pharming. 

Unlike phishing, which tries to fool you with fake emails, pharming secretly re-routes you to phishing websites – even if you don’t click anything. The result? Stolen passwords, drained bank accounts, and worse, identity theft. 

If you’re wondering how to prevent a pharming attack, you’ve come to the right place. 

Today, we break down the latest pharming stats, show you exactly how these attacks happen, and give you a clear, actionable plan to stay safe. 

Pharming is the 2025 scam you never heard of (but need to) 

So, how common is pharming in 2025? 

If the numbers are any indication, it’s less common than phishing in terms of volume and frequency. But there’s a distinct difference: Although pharming is no less dangerous, it’s harder to detect. 

In 2024, 12% of attacks employed pharming to target online banking and e-commerce sites.  

BUT over 90% of fake sites employed valid SSL certificates. This means pharming sites can have HTTPS links and padlock icons.  

On legitimate sites, the padlock indicates the use of TLS (Transport Layer Security), the successor to the SSL security protocol.  

So, when you see HTTPS in an URL and the padlock icon in the address bar, it means the site uses TLS encryption. Thus, communications between your browser and the site can’t be easily intercepted by scammers. 

But here’s the catch: Those same scammers can now get SSL certificates for free. So, a pharming website can have the same padlock icon and HTTPS address to look “secure.” For years, security experts warned: Don’t enter your password unless you see the padlock. 

But in 2025, this advice isn’t enough. Scammers know you’re looking for that padlock, so they make sure their pharming sites have them, too. 

But don’t fret: You can still beat the scammers at their game - read on to find out how. 

Pharming versus phishing: What’s the difference, and does it matter? 

First, let’s talk about the difference between pharming and phishing. 

While pharming and phishing sound similar, they’re actually very different types of attacks. It’s important to know how to distinguish between the two.  

Feature	Phishing	Pharming
How it works	Uses deceptive communication to trick you into taking immediate action Sends fake emails, texts, or messages with links According to the KnowBe4, 47% of attachments are PDFs, 11% are ZIP, 11% are DOCX, 14% are ODT, and 5% are SVG. Malicious QR codes are increasingly included, with the vast majority beingimages (67.6%) and a small portion generated with Unicode (32.4%).	Manipulates technical infrastructure like DNS settings or host files Secretly redirects you from a real website to a fake one, even if you type in the correct URL address User interaction not typically required Harder to detect than phishing because it happens at the network infrastructure level
Main goal	To get you to click on a link, open an attachment, or respond to a message To steal your passwords or login credentials, banking details, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive data	Instead of getting you to click on links, directs you to a fake website or login page To capture your passwords or login credentials, banking details, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive data
Attack method	Relies on human psychology, leveraging emotions like urgency, fear, trust, and FOMO (fear-of-missing-out) to trick you into handing over sensitive data	Uses two main techniques: (1) DNS server pharming - corrupts DNS servers (which translate domain names like www.bank.com into IP addresses) so everyone using them gets redirected to sites controlled by the attackers; (2) Local host pharming through malware infections -trojans or viruses infect yourdevice andchange the DNS settings to redirect to fake, look-alikesites controlled by the scammers
How to spot it	Use of alarming language with urgent or threatening email subject lines Spoofed email addresses Mismatch between sender address and domain such as public domains being used instead of official company domains (yourbank.support@gmail.com instead of support@yourbank.com)	Unusual redirects, with subtle changes in the URL Site design inconsistencies such as lower quality images and minor differences in fonts, logos, and colors Spoofed URLs with extra characters or misspelled words A large warning page stating, “Not Secure” or “Your connection is not private,” along with SSL/TLS certificate warnings like ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID (expired certificate), ERR_CERT_REVOKED (revoked certificate), or ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID (untrusted certificate authority)

Famous real-world pharming attacks  

The global pharming blitz: 65 banks, one big pharming heist (2007) 

In one of the boldest moves yet, scammers used DNS poisoning to attack more than 65 banks and financial institutions in the United States, Europe, and Australia.  

Customers were lured to a malicious website that prompted the download of a Trojan horse. This malware corrupted host files on the victim’s device, ensuring that any attempt to visit official bank sites would be redirected to counterfeit sites.  

Once a customer entered their login info on the fake site, that info was transferred to a malicious server. Then, the customer would be sent back to the real banking site, making the attack invisible. 

The targeted institutions included Barclays Bank, Discover card, American Express, and the Bank of Scotland. 

Operation Ghost Click: The $14 million-dollar DNS scam (2011) 

Now, let’s talk about the blockbuster of pharming attacks. 

Back in 2012, a group of cybercriminals from Estonia pulled off a pharming scam so big, the FBI called it one of the most “intricate international conspiracies conceived.” 

Their weapon of choice? A class of malware called DNSChanger: 

• DNSChanger infected about 4 million computers in over 100 countries. 

• In the US, devices that were infected belonged to individuals, businesses, and government agencies like NASA. 

• The pharming operation generated $14 million in illicit fees for the scammers. 

• DNSChanger even blocked anti-virus software and operating system updates. 

• The FBI had to set up temporary “clean” DNS servers to keep victims from losing internet access. 

The invisible heist: How Brazilian home routers became gateways for hackers (2018) 

A few years back, cybercriminals ran a clever pharming campaign that targeted home routers. They exploited weak or default router passwords to change router DNS settings. As a result, thousands of unsuspecting people handed over their banking info, thinking they were on their real bank’s website. 

As pharming generally involves network-level tampering, this attack stood out for its use of phishing emails as an initial vector or entry point. 

The Venezuelan volunteer trap: Pharming in a state-sponsored battlefield (2019) 

In Venezuela, the stakes were even higher. Government-backed hackers targeted activists and journalists trying to work with international humanitarian organizations to deliver aid to Venezuelans. 

The hackers redirected internet traffic to a fake humanitarian volunteer site that was visually identical to the real volunteer portal.  

They also used the IP address for the fake humanitarian site to host other fake login pages for services like Gmail, Instagram, Apple iCloud, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

This means the attackers used one IP address as a base for multiple pharming portals. While there’s no telling how the stolen data was used, the attack drew widespread concern about state-sponsored digital surveillance. 

The 7-step checklist to beat pharming in 2025 

In 2025, attackers are using AI, sophisticated social engineering tactics, and DNS-based attacks to redirect users to fake websites, stealing credentials and sensitive data with high efficiency.  

As hybrid workplaces and cloud app usage rises, 88% of organizations are experiencing at least one DNS-based attack annually, with the average cost of an attack at $942,000. 

And that’s not all: Malware targeting smart devices and critical infrastructure have grown by 55% YoY, many using DNS spoofing techniques to redirect users to malicious sites. 

But here’s the good news: Beating pharmers at their own game isn’t about luck; it’s about layered defenses that combine the right technologies and user actions. Below, we walk you through seven (7) practical strategies to stay one step ahead of the scammers. 

#1 Use a Secure by Design password manager with autofill capabilities 

Pharming attacks are getting smarter, but so are the tools designed to stop them.  

In 2025, using a password manager (that aligns with principles in the CISA Secure by Design pledge), is one of the most reliable ways to protect your credentials from even the most sophisticated redirection scams. 

Here's how LastPass protects you: 

• It’s built with security as a foundational priority, aligning with CISA’s call for vendors to take ownership of customer security outcomes. LastPass enforces military-grade AES-256 encryption, MFA, and secure sharing with no extra configuration required, aligning with CISA’s call for products to be secure “out-of-the-box.” 

• LastPass undergoes regular expert security audits, maintains a public security incident page, and offers detailed documentation of its security & privacy practices. This aligns with CISA’s emphasis on transparency and accountability. 

• Finally, our leadership team prioritizes security – across people, processes, and technology – aligning with CISA’s call for executives to prioritize security as a critical element of product development.  

Action step:  

• Try a FREE LastPass Premium trial for 30 days to enjoy autofill as a powerful defense against pharming. With LastPass autofill, your login credentials won’t be entered if you’re redirected to a lookalike site (even if only ONE character is off).  

#2 The email test: How to spot the one link you should never click 

Spoofed URLs are getting harder to spot, leading to more than $70 million in losses in 2024 alone. 

Shortened links, for instance, often have standard HTTPS encryption, making them appear trustworthy. But there are ways to fight back. 

Action steps:  

• The first (which you’re most likely familiar with) is to implement a “hover and verify” approach, where you hover your mouse over suspicious links to preview URLs. 

• The second is to use link safety scanners like Cloudflare’s URL Scanner to check for indicators of fake domains, analyze SSL certificates & DNS records, and vet shortened redirects to destination URLs.  

#3 Non-negotiable: Use phishing-resistant multi factor authentication 

Did you know that MFA can prevent 99.99% of attacks on your accounts?  

That said, the type of MFA you use matters. In 2025, SMS based MFA is no longer sufficient. With phishing-as-a-service toolkits like Tycoon 2FA, Rockstar 2FA, Evilproxy, and Mamba 2FA, scammers can now circumvent MFA with a range of bypass attacks. 

The gold standard for MFA is now phishing resistant MFA, like FIDO2 security keys or passkeys. 

Action step:  

• Try a FREE 30-day trial of LastPass Premium to use the gold standard for MFA in 2025: FIDO2 MFA or passkeys. 

#4 DNS as your first line of defense: Why secure DNS servers are your secret weapon 

DNS hijacking is the backbone of modern pharming attacks. In 2025, DNS attacks are a significant concern for almost 50% of businesses. And here’s why: 

• 82% of DNS attacks lead to app outages. 

• Almost 30% results in data theft. 

Action steps:  

• By default, your internet provider’s DNS service or DNS resolver is used. This DNS service translates any domain you type in (like www.amazon.com) into a numeric IP address. Your browser then uses this IP address to connect directly to the server that will load your requested page. This is where DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) comes in. DNSSEC validates responses to the above queries by using cryptographic digital signatures. It protects against threats like DNS poisoning and DNS hijacking that redirect you to malicious IP addresses. Essentially, DNSSEC is like a security guard. It makes sure the IP address your DNS resolver gives you is from the correct source and hasn’t been tampered with.
  
  
• But what if your internet provider doesn’t offer DNSSEC support? In that case, switching to a public DNS provider like Google Public DNS, Cloudflare DNS, or OpenDNS can help. To switch or change the DNS resolver on your device, head to your network settings and look for the DNS settings to enter the IP address of your chosen DNS resolver. 

• Normally, DNS queries (the request to find the IP address of the website you want to visit) are sent in plain text. This makes it easier for hackers to tamper with your DNS queries. Some browsers and devices let you “hide” DNS queries. Look for settings such as DNS over HTTPS (DoH) or DNS over TLS (DoT) in your browser/router and turn them on, if possible. Need some help? Here's how to turn on DNS over HTTPS or configure DoH/DoT on a TP-Link wireless router. 

• Still using the default factory password for your router? Use the LastPass Generator to create a strong, unique password, so hackers can’t break in and change your DNS settings to redirect your internet traffic to fake sites.  

#5 Avoid public Wi-Fi, the pharmer’s favorite playground 

Public Wi-Fi (at gyms, restaurants, stores, or airports) is convenient but vulnerable to drive-by pharming. 

Action step:  

• Avoid signing in to sensitive accounts via public Wi-Fi. If you must connect, use a reputable VPN with DNS leak protection. For critical work, tether to your mobile network. 

#6 Patch early, patch often: Why updates are your fastest win 

Unpatched software is still a top vulnerability for pharming, responsible for a 54% surge in attacks in 2024. 

Action steps:  

• Automate OS, app, and browser updates across all your devices.  

• Learn how to update your router’s firmware regularly. 

#7 Use the right solutions for pharming defense: 2025’s top picks 

In 2025, blocking access to pharming sites and malware that alters DNS settings requires robust anti-virus solutions. Combined with a Dark Web Monitoring service that watches for your personal info, you get a double layer of protection against pharming. 

Action steps:  

• Use top anti-virus solutions like Bitdefender Total Security, MacAfee+ Premium, or Norton 360 Select. 

• Try the award-winning Dark Web Monitoring service trusted by millions worldwide. With a 30-day FREE trial of LastPass Premium, you get instant access to Dark Web Monitoring and alerts if your login credentials are found on Dark Web sites. This allows you to change passwords before criminals can exploit the information for account takeovers and identity theft. Don’t wait: Treat yourself to effortless security and peace of mind today.