Someone who tried his hands at finding the right Domain Name for his business an
d gone through the painstaking domain registration process, can understand how valuable the right Domain Name is. Since this is your website’s address, and it acts as your digital identity, it is special and invaluable, and so it needs to be secured.
Ensuring the security of your Domain Hosting is crucial when establishing your online presence. If you fail to secure your Domain Name, hackers can negatively affect your business through malpractices, including cybersquatting or Domain Name piracy.
So it is in your best interest to know how you can effectively secure your Domain Name, protecting it from unwanted alterations.
Read on to learn more!
How to Secure Domain Name?
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Keep Track of Domain Name Expiration
To protect your Domain Name, stay informed about its expiration date and renew it on time to prevent permanent loss.
Opt for the longest registration duration, up to 10 years, to minimise the risk of forgetting to renew. Beware of scammers who may exploit expired domains, holding them hostage for inflated prices.
Also, keep track of the expiration date in the WHOIS database and set reminders for timely renewal. Enable auto-renewal with your registrar and maintain up-to-date payment information to ensure uninterrupted domain registration.
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Provide Accurate Contact Information
Use different contacts for the registrant, admin, and tech details, allowing your registrar to reach you through multiple channels. Avoid using an email address that matches the registered domain to ensure effective communication in case of any issues.
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Stay Vigilant Against Domain Name Scams
Beware of fraudulent activities targeting Domain Name registrants, such as unnecessary fees or unauthorised transfers. Delete or ignore suspicious emails and contact your registrar for concerns or inquiries.
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Safeguard Your Privacy
Public data repositories like the WHOIS database can expose personal information. To protect your privacy, consider utilising a private registration service offered by Domain Name registrars.
This service replaces your personal information with the registrar’s contact details in the public registry, preventing unauthorised access.
Legitimate communication is facilitated through a special code, ensuring only authorised correspondences reach the website owner or administrator.
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Defend Against Cybersquatting
Cybersquatters register Domain Names like existing websites or obtain unused Domain Names to deceive visitors.
To combat cybersquatting, consider purchasing variations of your primary Domain Name and relevant extensions (e.g., .com, .net, .org) to cover multiple countries and potential misspellings.
By being proactive, you can minimise the risk of falling victim to cybersquatting attempts.
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Verify WHOIS Database Accuracy
Regularly check the WHOIS database for any errors in the posted information. If you have opted for private registration, consult your registrar to understand how private registrations will be listed.
Report any inaccuracies through the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System and test the anonymised email address provided by the registrar to ensure it reaches you correctly.
Conclusion
Serious business people never neglect the security of their Domain Names. It is crucial to proactively engage with your domain and hosting service providers to understand the necessary measures to protect your domain effectively.
Remember that domain protection is not a one-time task; it requires ongoing vigilance. So, when you decide to buy a domain, contact the most reputed hosting companies while searching for Domain Names. Utilising the best tools allow you to regularly monitor your Domain Names and be prepared to take immediate action if any issues arise.