However, this surge has also led to an increase in the number of .ai domains being blocked for indulging in malicious activities such as phishing attacks, affiliate marketing scams, and cryptocurrency scams. Despite the high cost of an .ai domain, around $60 compared to $10 for a .zip or .com domain, criminals are willing to pay the extra cost due to the perceived legitimacy of .ai domains, especially in relation to cryptocurrency scams.
Key takeaways:
- Cybercriminals are increasingly using .ai domain names for AI themed attacks.
- The British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, which has .ai as its country code, has profited from this trend, making almost $3 million in related fees in 2018.
- Research shows a significant increase in the number of .ai domains used by web servers since 2013, and a rise in the number of these domains being blocked for malicious activity.
- An .ai domain is more expensive than a .zip or .com domain, but criminals believe the implied 'legitimacy' of .ai domains is worth the extra cost, especially for cryptocurrency scams.