A new phishing operation is misleading users through an extremely subtle visual technique that alters the appearance of Microsoft’s domain name. Attackers have registered the look-alike address “rnicrosoft(.)com,” which replaces the single letter m with the characters r and n positioned closely together. The small difference is enough to trick many people into believing they are interacting with the legitimate site.
This method is a form of typosquatting where criminals depend on how modern screens display text. Email clients and browsers often place r and n so closely that the pair resembles an m, leading the human eye to automatically correct the mistake. The result is a domain that appears trustworthy at first glance although it has no association with the actual company.
Experts note that phishing messages built around this tactic often copy Microsoft’s familiar presentation style. Everything from symbols to formatting is imitated to encourage users to act without closely checking the URL. The campaign takes advantage of predictable reading patterns where the brain prioritizes recognition over detail, particularly when the user is scanning quickly.
The deception becomes stronger on mobile screens. Limited display space can hide the entire web address and the address bar may shorten or disguise the domain. Criminals use this opportunity to push malicious links, deliver invoices that look genuine, or impersonate internal departments such as HR teams. Once a victim believes the message is legitimate, they are more likely to follow
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