How do I keep my domain name safe from cybersquatting and hijacking?
Cybersquatting is an act of registering or using a domain name with the malicious intentions of profiting from the goodwill of someone else’s trademark. Most commonly, it is a practice of registering domain names that use the names of existing renowned businesses and cashing in on somebody else’s success.
If you are a cybersquatting victim, you have two options:
- For U.S. citizens: there is a federal law known as the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) that enables you to file a lawsuit.
- For non-U.S. citizens: You can use the international arbitration system of ICANN. This procedure is typically shorter and you won’t be needing an attorney.
Some of the advisable practices to prevent cybersquatting include:
- Officially registering your trademark
- Registering a domain under your own name (i.e. you are the official domain holder)
- Registering different domain extensions under the same name (e.g. .me, .com, .net)
Domain hijacking or domain theft is a cyber crime that implies the unauthorized change of the registration of a certain domain name, with the intention of using it for abusive actions. Here’s how you can prevent domain theft:
- Protect your e-mail account: Ensure your password is of solid strength, and you may even want to change it once in awhile.
- Check security protection options before registering your domain (e.g. call-back authentication, placing various domain locks).
- Keep your eyes on your traffic: If you notice any highly suspicious traffic, reach out to your registrar to see what’s up.
A good protective strategy is to keep your domain status code locked: it gives you full control and it is the basic security measure everyone should follow. For more details on protecting your domain name from cybersquatting and hijacking, check out our “Ultimate Guide to Domain Safety” blog post.