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IPFS News Link • Hacking, Cyber Security

The Dot-Vote Crusade to Defend Politicians From Cybersquatters

• Wired

He'd be less happy if you clicked on JebBush.com. Head to what seems like the most obvious URL for his campaign, and you'll be redirected to a big smirking picture of Donald Trump flashing a peace sign on his official site and a banner that declares "SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP."

This is not exactly the type of exposure the Bush campaign is hoping for.

But Bush is hardly the only candidate in this election cycle to fall victim to political cybersquatting—in which opportunists buy potentially valuable domain names, use them to smear or embarrass a candidate, and, in some cases, charge candidates a pretty penny to buy them back.

In this election season alone, someone is using TedCruz.com to endorse President Barack Obama. CarlyFiorina.org features one sad emoticon for every person she laid off as CEO of Hewlett-Packard.


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