Domain Protection

What is Domain Protection?

Domain protection refers to the online security settings you can use to keep your domain name settings secure and under your control. Many things can happen to your domain without the proper protections in place:

• Domain Theft: When someone illegally takes control of your domain name, usually by hacking your registry account or tricking you into giving away access to it.
• Unauthorized Transfers: This is when a domain name is moved to another account or registrar without your permission. Usually happens when login information is stolen or hacked.
• Domain Hacking: This term refers to someone breaking into your domain registry account to steal your personal contact information, and/or take control of your domain settings. This would allow them to redirect your DNS settings to a different website from your own, or completely disable your website.
• Domain Hijacking: Similar to domain hacking, domain hijacking involves taking control of your domain name to change ownership details so they appear as the rightful owner of your domain.
• Accidental Expiration: This involves failing to remember your domain name’s annual expiration date and renewing its registration in time. There is no grace period after your domain name expires, so it will be available for purchase by others immediately.

All those words are a little freaky, but don’t worry. This guide will walk you through the measures you can take to protect your domain from all of them.

How Do I Protect My Domain?

Here are some basic tools you can use to protect your domain. They all work together to safeguard your domain name, and all are available to use when you login to your domain registry account.

Domain Privacy Protection (WHOIS Privacy)

Keeping your personal information private when you register your domain is a good first step towards domain protection.

When you first register your domain, your contact details are stored in a public database called WHOIS. Domain Privacy protection hides this information and replaces it with your registrar’s contact details.

Your registrar (the company you used to buy your domain name) will forward any important messages directly to you. When you buy your domain through Northwest Registered Agent, use of our contact information to protect your privacy is included.

Domain Lock: Prevent Unauthorized Domain Transfers

A domain lock stops hackers from transferring your domain name to their control. This is what you get when you choose to enable domain lock:

• Protection from unauthorized transfer of control
• All unauthorized transfer requests are blocked
• You are notified via email of any unauthorized transfer requests

Keeping domain lock on at all times is highly recommended. It’s easy to turn off in your domain registry account if you ever decide to sell or transfer your domain somewhere else.

DNS Protection & Domain Security

DNS (Domain Name System) settings direct your domain’s visitors to your website. Several steps and server processes are involved whenever someone clicks on your domain name link. If your DNS security is not set up properly, your domain could be redirected to a different website or disabled entirely.

Here’s what basic DNS security looks like:

• Creating strong passwords for accessing your domain registry account
• Enabling multi-factor authentication so you get notified about account access attempts
• Keeping your registrar account access details private and your account contact information current
• Monitoring DNS changes and staying aware of updates and access attempts by logging into your domain registry account regularly

Check out our DNS Privacy guide to learn how your domain connects visitors to your website, and how you can protect that path from redirection.

Auto-Renewal Protects Your Domain

One of the most common ways to lose your domain is to simply forget to renew it! You’re a busy business owner, you can’t be expected to remember everything. Activating auto-renewal inside your domain registry account is the easiest way to prevent the loss of your domain.

If you let your domain registration expire:

• Your website will stop working
• Your domain name will be up for sale
• You may be charged recovery fees to reactivate it
• You could permanently lose that domain name

Simply toggling on the auto-renewal button, and keeping a current credit card on file with your registrar, will prevent all this from happening on accident. This is the easiest way to protect your domain.

Multi-Factor Authentication for Domain Security

Multi-factor authentication protects unauthorized access to your domain registrar account. With this security feature enabled:

• Logging in would require a password and a verification code sent to your phone or email
• Hackers and hijackers would not be able to access your account so easily
• Your domain settings would be secured

Not all domain registrars offer multi-factor authentication, or if they do, they may try to charge extra for it. At Northwest, this level of security is included and encouraged with every domain registration.

Domain Parking: Reserving a Domain Name

Domain parking is when you register a domain name and keep it reserved for future use. It’s like calling “dibs” on the domain name so no one else can grab it before you’re ready to use it.

There are many reasons why people choose to “park” a domain name:

• Reserve a business name: If you don’t already have your LLC or corporation formed with the state, you may choose to “dibs” the domain name beforehand.
• Protect your business name: Many people choose to buy up all similar versions of their original domain name to prevent a company from selling knockoff products or making other fraudulent references to their brand online.
• Save a domain for future use: You may not be ready to build the website, but you can at least “dibs” the domain name and save it for as long as you need to.
• Prevent competitors from taking it: No one likes having their good ideas stolen by competitors. Domain parking can help you keep your good domain name idea safe.

Domain parking keeps your domain protected by keeping your ownership of it active and maintaining your registration rights to it.

If you have a good idea for a domain name, get it registered as soon as you can. If you don’t end up using it yourself, you may be able to sell it to someone else for a tidy profit.

Domain Protection Checklist

Whether you’re buying your first domain name, or an experienced buyer, it’s a good idea to make sure your domain name security is top level. Most of the protection features here are available for you to activate in your domain registrar account. Contact your registrar right away if you need assistance in making updates or changes to your domain security.

In general, every domain name should consider the following security measures:

1. Activate Domain Privacy: to keep your personal info off public WHOIS records
2. Turn on domain lock: to prevent domain hijacking
3. Enable auto-renewal: to keep your domain ownership active
4. Create a strong password: to protect your registrar account (share it with no one!)
5. Enable multi-factor authentication: to create an extra wall of protection for your account
6. Keep your contact information up to date: to allow your registrar to contact you with important notices
7. Check your domain settings regularly: to stay aware of changes and unauthorized access attempts

Using these domain protections should keep your domain safe for the life of your business. Always contact your registrar if you suspect your domain name has been accessed without your permission, or if you need help updating these settings.