What is iclou.com and why are users signing up with it?
Summary
What email marketers say9Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit discusses that iclou.com addresses could be used as the target for email bombing attacks, overwhelming a user's actual iCloud account with spam.
Email marketer from Webmaster Forums suggests the domain might be used for redirecting traffic to affiliate marketing links. Users typing 'iclou.com' may be redirected to sites unrelated to Apple's iCloud, where the domain owner earns a commission.
Email marketer from DomainNameForum.com shares that iclou.com could be used for email harvesting, collecting email addresses from users who mistakenly sign up, and then using these for spam or marketing purposes.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares it is a parked domain and possibly a typo trap domain.
Email marketer from Tech News Daily shares that users signing up with iclou.com might be unknowingly providing their data to a malicious party. This data could be used for identity theft or other nefarious purposes.
Email marketer from Marketing Insights Blog explains that domains like iclou.com could be used to collect user data under false pretenses. Users believe they are signing up for iCloud, but are actually providing their information to a different entity.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that iclou.com is likely a typo-squatting domain, where users accidentally type 'l' instead of 'd' when trying to reach icloud.com. People sign up due to this typo.
Email marketer from Quora suggests that iclou.com could be a domain purchased by someone hoping to resell it to Apple (who owns iCloud) at a higher price. It's a form of domain speculation.
Email marketer from Security Forums explains that iclou.com accounts can be used to create fake accounts on other platforms. The attacker can then use these fake accounts to spread spam or propaganda.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise answers explains that iclou.com is likely a typo-squatted domain targeting users who incorrectly type icloud.com. Users signing up there are either making a mistake or are bots.
Expert from Email Geeks explains mobile app launched and mobile app installed indicates that the person gave you a fake email address when they installed your app.
Expert from Email Geeks explains it’s a garbage domain and suggests the user probably meant <http://icloud.com|icloud.com>.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that iclou.com is a prime example of typo-squatting, designed to catch users who misspell 'icloud.com'. People may inadvertently sign up, believing they are creating an iCloud account.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Cybersecurity Today shares that malicious actors often use domains with slight variations in spelling to deceive users. These domains can be used to distribute malware or harvest user credentials. Iclou.com fits this pattern and should be treated with suspicion.
Documentation from APWG explains that typo squatting can be a form of phishing. By using a domain name that is similar to a legitimate one, attackers can trick users into entering their credentials or other sensitive information. They suggest being vigilant and carefully checking the spelling of website addresses before entering information.
Documentation from Wikipedia explains that URL hijacking (also known as typo-squatting) is a form of cybersquatting that relies on mistakes such as typos made by Internet users when inputting a website address into a web browser. Iclou.com is very likely an example of this.
Documentation from ICANN explains that registering intentionally mis-spelled versions of popular domains is a strategy used to confuse internet users. These imposter addresses rely on common errors when users type in website addresses. The documentation mentions that some use this as a form of cybersquatting to profit.