Pharming primarily involves rerouting requests for legitimate websites to fraudulent websites, which can have serious security implications for users. This technique is often achieved through malicious code or by compromising DNS settings, allowing attackers to capture sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal data.
When users attempt to access a familiar and trusted site, pharming redirects them to a spoofed site that may look identical but is designed to trap sensitive information. This method is particularly insidious because it can occur without any direct action from the user, unlike phishing attacks that require users to click on dubious links.
Understanding pharming is crucial for IT management because it emphasizes the need for secure DNS configurations, user education about the signs of fraudulent websites, and the importance of implementing strong security measures to protect both organizational and personal data online.