Google created Google AdSense for domains [1] to help maximize revenue on so-called parked pages (yes, those ugly pages full of links that vaguely look like a search engine page). Of course, this attracted a lot of web spammers. They simply use a well-known domain, but with little alterations. That's why they are sometimes referred to as typo-squatters.

As typo-Squatters Are Gaming Google [2] and others, some companies are fighting back. And one of them is Microsoft. It's research team developed a prototype, "Strider URL [3] Tracer". That Microsoft tool can be used to hunt down typo-squatters [4].

The typo-squatters can be a very lucrative activity. The authors often feels safe, because they often go unnoticed, and the "squatted" companies dont go to court most of the time. But this could change very soon.

Refs

• Google [5] :
  Google AdSense for domain [6]
• eWeek [7]:
  MS Research: Typo-Squatters Are Gaming Google [8]
• eWeek [9]:
  Microsoft Ships 'URL Tracer' to Hunt Down Typo-Squatters [10]