Cybersquatters and phishers have beefed up their tactics for the holiday season making it difficult for online shoppers and frustrating for many businesses, according to analysts at MarkMonitor, a firm that tracks company brand abuse on the Internet. The company conducted a four week analysis in September to determine the state of brandjacking–a common problem brand names being abused on the Web.

Cybersquatting, the term used when a person hijacks a word or phrase using a Web domain to point to a site that isn’t owned by the trademark owner is among MarkMonitor’s top concerns headed into the holiday season. The practice rose 10% over the previous quarter and 20% year over year. It falls in line with expectations as the holiday season ramps up, said Frederick Felman, chief marketing officer of MarkMonitor.