An Internet scam that involves misdirecting a user to a fraudulent Web site or proxy server by exploiting weaknesses in DNS (Domain Name Server) server software and hijacking transactions, or by changing certain files in the client software on a victim's computer.The term pharming is a play on farming and phishing. (Hackers commonly replace f with ph, phor reasons that are entirely unphathomable to the rest of us.) See also e-mail, hyperlink, Internet, phishing, pretexting, scam, social engineering, and spam.