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Shielding Your Online Identity from Domain Name Thieves

The domain name industry is booming with business as more individuals and businesses look to establish their identity online.  Being such a hot commodity also makes them a target for thieves of all sorts.  In this article we will explain some of the parties you need to keep your precious domain name protected from.

Shady Business Partners

More and more, we are seeing business professionals lose ownership of their domain name to a partner or co owner.  In many cases, the name is initially registered in one person’s name and with access to the account, the other partner redirects the domain to another website, a move that essentially puts the original company out of business.  More often than not, the co owner demands money or other type of collateral in exchange for the domain, using it as leverage to get something in return for something that could not be obtained in the context of a partnership.  Surprisingly enough, this is one of the most common examples of theft as domain names are stolen in this manner at a staggering rate of about 25%.

Disgruntled Employees

It is very rare for management figures to be involved in the domain name registration process.  This part is typically handled by a member of the IT department but may also be designated to lower level employees.  When this occurs, domain name theft becomes a much more probable crime.  Should an employee leave the company on bad terms, they just might take that valuable information with them.  This could lead to a nasty dispute between the ex employee and their former employer.  While there is a possibility of getting the domain back, retrieving it is quite difficult when the important registration details have been stolen.

Third-Party Partners

There have been cases involving developers supplying their own information when registering domain names for customers.  Some have even gone as far as to list the name of their company as the legitimate registrant of the customer’s trademark.  Should there ever be a billing dispute down the road, the developer then leverages the domain you thought was registered in your name to get their demands met.  More common is the vendor that registers a domain name on behalf of the customer only to go out of business, leaving the customer with no idea of how to renew the name or regain control of it in any form.  These are two very crucial examples because if the vendor folds or the developer becomes irrate, you could find yourself in the middle of web-based extortion and fighting an uphill battle for your online identity.

Domain theft is on the rise and occurring far more frequently than one would expect.   As an online business owner, you must keep in mind that your domain name is a piece of intellectual property and secure this vital intangible just as you would tangible assets.  Fortunately, this is pretty easy to do.  Do business with a reliable registrar, obtain the necessary security features, maintain control of your account details and you will be much less susceptible to domain theft.

Finding a Domain for Your Business

Having a domain name is vital for any online company.  Some view this as your official license to effectively do business on the web.  If you are just starting out online, it is important to look around and get the best domain name deal you can find.

The price for domain name registrations have dropped significantly, although there are still a few companies that will charge more than $20 per year if you are not careful.  Before signing up with the first registrar you run across, do a little research and find out what is available.  By doing so, you will know more about the domain game and what is acceptable and what is completely ridiculous.

Where to Look

The ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the body that accredits companies as official domain name registrars.  This organization makes a great resource as it lists the names for all accredited registrars on the website.  These companies are generally trust worthy as they are required to follow the rules and regulation set forth by the ICANN.  While this lists makes a good place to start, it will not provide you with any price comparisons on domain names.

Comparing Prices

You could easily spend hours searching through dozens of registrars looking for one that offers a decent price.  There are however, several companies well known for their affordable price on domains and associated services.  One name you are sure to run across is GoDaddy.com, a global leader in domain names.  GoDaddy has some of the best deals on the market, frequently offering bargains on relative extensions when making your initial purchase.  This registrar also allows you to transfer existing domains from another service, letting you to take advantage of a lower price and extend the current registration.  Aside from domain names, GoDaddy offers a number of services and options that you may find very useful.

Additionally, there are several comparison sites that will chart several domains so you can see what’s available.  If comparing multiple registrars is something you want to do, you will find  RegSelect.com as a great resource for comparative domain shopping.  The website is simple to navigate and allows you to view the cheapest or largest domain registrars.  RegSelct provides you with a full list of ICANN-accredited services and makes it easy to find one that meets your needs.  This service is free of charge and quite valuable as it gives you side-by-side comparisons of prices as well as features such as domain parking, forwarding and other services.

Shopzilla is known for its comparisons of various consumer products, but also allows you to find domain name registrars.  While the results are not as extensive as what you’ll find on RegSelect, the site still makes a good source and does pull up a few of the top companies.

Conclusion

Domain registrars are plentiful so there is no need to settle for steep prices.  A simple domain name will likely have implications on your business for as long as you own the website.  By spending a little time to find a reputable service, you can get a great bargain along with some extra perks that benefit your business.

Someone Registered My Domain – What Now?

Everybody is after domain names these days whether its for a website or just an email address to demonstrate credibility.  A domain name shows ownership, helping to prove that you are independent of any free web hosting or email service.  If you have a domain name in mind for your business, it would be a wise move to secure it before someone else does.

So what can you do if someone already registered the domain name you want?  You generally have two options: come up with another name or try to purchase the domain from the owner.  The results you get with the latter largely depends on why the domain name was registered.  Domain speculators, more commonly known as cyber squatters, often purchase domains for the sole purpose of selling them off to the highest bidder.  Believe it or not, some have made a lucrative business out of this practice.  Companies have paid hundreds to millions of dollars for hot domain names.  One example is Pizza.com which sold for $2.6 million this past April.

In some cases, domain names are purchased because a company or individual wants to establish a legitimate online business.  The cold hard facts are that if someone has registered your ideal domain name, you may have no other choice but to go with something else.  There are however, instances where a third option can be exercised.  United States courts have mandated that trademark holders are able to claim specific domains even if someone else registered the name first.  Assuming Toys R Us has their name trademarked for instance, if they run across a site using this for a domain name, they would be able to take legal action and seize control of it.  If you experience something similar, you may be able to claim your domain which will also depend on what type of name it is and how its is being used by current owner.

Because .com reigns supreme on the internet, there is a good chance that your preferred name may not be available with this extension.  In this instance, you might want to consider another top-level domain such as .org or .net.  While these extensions don’t have the familiarity of .com, they still make solid alternatives.  You also have other options as several alternative TLDs have been approved over the last few years.  If you have to choose another TLD, be sure to read the accompanying explanations so you know just who qualifies for what extension.

Another option you have for registering your domain is to use an extension that associates with your country.  Two of the most popular extensions are .de in Germany and .ca in Canada.  The country of Montserrat sells its .ms domain for around $50 per year while domains in the United States can be registered with the .us extension at no cost.  These domains are more likely to be available yet are not well known.  Furthermore, domains with a us. extension are also required to include city and state extensions such as mycompany.detroit.michigan.us.  If you are looking for a catchy name that is easy to remember, this obviously wouldn’t be the way to go.

To find out if your domain has already been purchased, visit whois.com or a major registrar and perform a search.  If its still available, don’t hesitate to secure it.