In today’s business world, sharing your website address is as common as providing your email or phone number. Your web domain represents your business identity online, so protecting it from cyber threats, like domain hijacking, is crucial.
Your website reflects your brand—from the design and images to the email addresses that use your domain (e.g., sales@yourbusinessname.com). Now, imagine the distress of discovering that someone else has taken control of your domain.
If your domain is hijacked, you lose access to your website, email addresses, and other associated accounts, and recovery can be challenging and costly.
Consider these real-world examples from the Infosec Institute:
One advertising agency spent $15,000 and 19 months reclaiming its stolen domain.
ShadeDaddy.com’s owner lost $50,000 and had to lay off six of eight employees after a domain theft. He described it as feeling like “your house got stolen.”
How Does Domain Theft Happen?
There are several ways a domain can be stolen:
Expired Domain: The simplest form of domain theft is allowing it to expire unknowingly. Domain registrars are required to notify you one month and one week before expiration, but those reminders may go to an outdated email or to a web developer you no longer work with. Once a domain expires, it returns to a pool where anyone can purchase it.
Domain Traders and Cybercriminals: Opportunists buy expired domains to profit from a business’s need to reclaim them or from redirecting traffic to their own sites. Hijackers may also use your domain to send fake invoices, intercept emails to gather sensitive information or redirect your site to malicious content.
Email Account Breach: Cybercriminals may hack the email account used to set up your domain, gaining access to your domain account through phishing or password reset requests.
Registrar Breach: If your domain registration company is compromised, cybercriminals could access your domain. This is why choosing an accredited registrar is essential.
Any of these scenarios can lead to serious, lasting impacts on your business. Once a hijacker has control of your domain, they can use it for their own purposes, often at the expense of your reputation and financial health.
Protecting Your Domain Against Hijacking
To safeguard your domain, start by securing your account credentials. Enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection. Consider setting up a registry lock, which requires additional confirmation if anyone attempts to change your domain’s registration details. This proactive approach alerts you to suspicious activity, giving you time to react and maintain control.
By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of domain hijacking and keep your online presence secure.
It’s also important to know who is managing your domain name and how it is being managed. A Managed Service Provider can take care of this ongoing process for your business. Reach out to our Web experts today! Call us at (786) 233-2002
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