Found this here:
http://savemybutt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6861

Pharming
http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...lc01a&method=6

Pharming is the exploitation of a vulnerability in the DNS server software that allows a hacker to acquire the Domain Name for a site, and to redirect traffic to that website to another website. DNS servers are the giant computers that "run" the Internet.

If the website receiving the traffic is a fake website, such as a copy of a bank's website, it can be used to "Phish" or steal a computer user's passwords, PIN number or account number.

For example, in January, 2005, the Domain Name for a large New York ISP, Panix, was hijacked to a site in Australia. In 2004 a German teenager hijacked the eBay.de Domain Name.
so it would appear that, unless it is a man in the middle trick and the IP is Hyjacked, you best security is to store the IP of the important sites in your bookmarks, rather than the url..

thoughts on this subject..