IDN & Glyph Abuse Monitoring

The problem

IDN allows non-Latin characters in domain names. Attackers use characters that look like Latin letters (e.g. Cyrillic 'a' vs Latin 'a') to build homograph domains that bypass filters and fool users. Standard tools often miss them.

• Homograph domains (e.g. Latin lookalikes using Cyrillic or Greek)
• Punycode domains that render like your brand
• Multi-script confusion across scripts
• Visual rendering tricks that pass simple checks

How it works

1. 1

   Map your brand in multiple scripts

   We identify how your brand could be represented with lookalike characters in other scripts. This defines the set we monitor.

2. 2

   Scan and normalize

   We scan IDN and Punycode registrations and compare visual and normalized forms to your brand. Potential homographs are flagged.

3. 3

   Validate and evidence

   Analysts confirm abuse and gather evidence. You get clear documentation for takedown or legal use.

4. 4

   Escalate and track

   Use our takedown workflows for abusive IDN domains. We help you track status across registrars and registries.

Frequently asked questions

• What is Punycode and why does it matter?

  Punycode is the encoding used to represent Unicode domain names in ASCII (e.g. for DNS). Browsers may show the Unicode form, so users see a familiar name while the underlying domain is different. We monitor both to catch abuse.

• Which scripts do you cover?

  We cover scripts commonly used in homograph abuse (e.g. Cyrillic, Greek, Armenian) and others that can be confused with Latin. Coverage can be extended for your brand and regions.

• Do standard security tools catch IDN abuse?

  Many filters and tools focus on exact or simple string matches. Homograph domains can slip through. We specialize in visual and normalized comparison so we catch lookalikes that others miss.

• Can we block IDN homographs at the perimeter?

  We provide detection and evidence. Blocking at email or web gateways depends on your infrastructure. We can share indicators and patterns that your security team can use in policies.

• How do registrars handle IDN abuse reports?

  Registrars that support IDN typically have abuse policies that apply to homograph and phishing use. We provide evidence in a form that supports those policies and help you escalate when needed.