Domain name system (DNS) servers provide Internet protocol (IP) addresses
that computers must have for finding websites on the Internet. A recent
problem with navigating the Internet is that hackers have discovered ways
to change the IP addresses stored on the DNS servers. An altered IP
address will cause an Internet user to be directed to an incorrect or
fraudulent website. In the present invention, an Internet user's computer
stores domain names and corresponding IP addresses of all websites
visited with the computer. Each time a website is accessed, the IP
address received from the DNS server is compared to the IP address stored
in the database. If the IP addresses are identical, then the newly
received IP address is likely legitimate. If the IP addresses are
different, then the newly received IP address is likely fraudulent, and
the user can be warned before loading the website.