Web Defacers Warn Users Against Phishing Scams Effectively

A small percentage of Web sites illegally set up for phishing scams have been defaced with warnings to potential victims. While illegal, some Internet watchers believe the trend could be beneficial.Groups fighting against online criminals intent on phishing have gained allies from another species of underground miscreant: Web-site defacers.

On Thursday, Internet monitoring firm Netcraft reported that some users of the company's anti-phishing toolbar followed links to fake financial sites only to find them defaced with anti-phishing messages. While defacements in the past have consisted mainly of sophomoric messages and political diatribe, the recent attacks by Web-site defacers on phishing fraud could actually help warn online users before they become victims, said Paul Mutton, a services developer for Internet monitoring provider Netcraft.

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