Patent ID: 7827311

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: executing, by a processor in a client computer system, an anti-pharming application, wherein execution of said anti-pharming application generates said method comprising: proxying an HTTP request on the client computer system prior to release to a router, said HTTP request including an HTTP header; determining, following the proxying and prior to release to the router, whether said HTTP header identifies a referrer URL corresponding to routable, public IP address and a target URL corresponding to a non-routable, private IP address, wherein the determining includes: resolving said referrer URL to a referrer URL IP address; resolving the target URL to a target URL IP address; and comparing the referrer URL IP address and the target URL IP address to a database of known IP addresses to make the determination; wherein upon a determination that said HTTP header identifies a referrer URL corresponding to a routable, public IP address and a target URL corresponding to a non-routable, private IP address, blocking said HTTP request; and providing an alert notification.