Cybersecurity and phishing: the fake “rnicrosoft.com” domain that deceived thousands of users

In the world of cybersecurity, the most effective attacks are not always the most sophisticated, but the most subtle. A clear example is the recent case of a fake email from Microsoft that deceived thousands of users with a simple visual move: replacing “m” with an “r” and an “n”. What seems like a small typographic difference is, in fact, one of the techniques of Phishing more effective and persistent.

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A small detail, a great risk

In cybersecurity, we always say that we must review even the smallest details. And with good reason: just a few days ago, a “password reset” email supposedly sent by Microsoft began to circulate... but with a detail that catches the eye of any expert.

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The sender was not microsoft.com, but rnicrosoft.com. The combination of the letters”R” and”N” visually mimics the “m”, in what is known as an attack of Homoglyph —a classic technique that once again proves its effectiveness on a large scale. The message precisely copied Microsoft's design, colors and logos, appealing to urgency and asking the user to click to “review their account”. That click led to a fake page where access credentials were requested, exposing the account to information theft and possible unauthorized access.

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Why does this type of attack still work?

Because attackers not only exploit technical vulnerabilities, but also psychological ones. In situations of haste, fear or pressure, users stop analyzing the small details: an almost identical domain, a malicious link or a message with an alarming tone. The result can be serious, especially in corporate environments, where a compromised account can give access to email, OneDrive, Teams or SharePoint, amplifying the impact of the attack in seconds.

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What do we recommend from Apolo Cybersecurity?

• Always check the URL and the sender: legitimate Microsoft domains end in .microsoft.com, .live.com, *.office.com, or .login.microsoftonline.com.
• Don't just rely on the design: check the name and address of the sender, no matter how authentic the email seems.
• Never enter personal data or passwords in forms that you accessed from suspicious email links.
• If you have questions, log in manually by typing the address in your browser.
• Activate the multifactor authentication (MFA) on all your accounts.
• If you think you've been a victim, change your password immediately and review recent account activity

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Lessons left by the case

This incident shows that phishing doesn't always require advanced techniques or sophisticated malware: a visually similar domain and a distracted victim are enough.
Attention, verification and reasonable distrust remain the best defenses against digital fraud.

As we often remember: cybersecurity doesn't start with a firewall, but with a second look.

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Attention, your best defense against phishing

Cases such as”rnicrosoft.com” demonstrate that social engineering can be more dangerous than any virus. In Apolo Cybersecurity we help companies train their teams, detect digital fraud and reinforce their cybersecurity culture, because the best barrier is not always technological: it is human.

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