If you are someone that never realized that your domain name could be stolen, you’ll want to read this article as I’m going to show you the top 5 ways to ensure this doesn’t happen to you.
As if you don’t have enough to worry about running your online business, you’ve now got to be on top of people who may try to steal your domain name. Why would they do this? As with any other theft, the thief is looking to make a quick buck. In the case of this kind of theft, the thief can simply change your contact information to theirs and resell your domain name. Depending on how popular your domain name is, the thief could get thousands of dollars for it. And forget about getting it back anytime soon. You’ll likely fight for years and spend plenty before you even have a chance of getting it back. Consider the costs involved in the loss of your online identity. Your customers will think they are going to your site, but it will be someone else’s.
With a domain name theft, you’ll be out of business immediately. On top of that, you could end up with a very damaged reputation, depending on what the new owner of your stolen domain name does with the site.
Sadly, many folks who register domain names don’t take the proper steps from the get to to protect their online identity. You’ll want to follow the following 5 tips when it comes to protecting your domain name:
1. Private Registration
Be sure to select “private” registration when registering your new domain name. There are some registrars such as 1&1 and Namecheap that offer private registrations at no additional cost, but many registrars will charge you anywhere from $10 to $15 for this service. By using a private registration, your personal information will not appear in the WHOIS directory, making it more difficult for someone to hack into your domain registration account.
2. Lock Down option
Most registrars offer a free service that locks your account. In the event someone tries to make changes to your registration information, they won’t be able to until your account or specific domain is unlocked – either by email verification or via telephone.
3. 24/7 Registrar Support
Be sure to use a registrar that offers 24 hour support, 365 days a year. This is critical in the event you find that your domain has been hijacked / stolen. By being able to contact support at any hour, your registrar will be able to begin an investigation and recovery operation immediately.
4. Notification
Be sure to set up your account with your chosen registrar so that you are notified anytime a change is made to your account. You can set this up so that you are called or emailed.
5. Check WHOIS
It’s always a good idea to check your domain’s information in the WHOIS directory on a somewhat regular basis. I check all of mine on a monthly basis, for example. Be sure you are still registered as the owner and that the contact information is still correct.
By following these 5 tips, the chances of anyone hijacking /stealing your domain name will be greatly reduced.
