| Domain name theft is a very real threat to a | | | | reminder from your domain registrar. After he |
| domainer. Not only can your domain be stolen but | | | | accesses your domain registrar, he could then go |
| you could also end up buying stolen domain | | | | on to change the password and have full access |
| names. | | | | to all your domains. |
| So, here are a few steps to protect yourself | | | | If you check your email from a public internet |
| from domain name theft: | | | | cafe - ensure that you don't request that your |
| 1. Make sure you whois record is current. In | | | | password be automatically saved. Some browsers |
| general, whois records tell searchers who owns a | | | | give you this option. |
| particular domain, their email address and their | | | | 3. Lock your domains. This is one of the best |
| physical address. | | | | ways to protect yourself from domain name |
| If you go to whois dotcom and enter your | | | | theft. Registrars offer this service free - making it |
| domain name, you should see all your relevant | | | | harder for a thief to transfer out your name. |
| information. | | | | 4. Pay attention to correspondence from your |
| It is against The Internet Corporation for | | | | domain registrar. When your domain name is in |
| Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) rules to | | | | the process of being transferred from your |
| have false whois information or information that is | | | | account to another account at the same or a |
| not current. | | | | different registrar, you get an email. |
| No what is the importance of this? | | | | This email from the registrar notifiers you of the |
| Well, let us say that you register a great domain. | | | | transfer and gives you time to respond if the |
| To register a name you must state an email | | | | transfer is fraudulent. |
| address which your registrar will use to contact | | | | 5. Be careful of domain sellers. Thieves eventually |
| you. | | | | want to sell the domains they steal. So if you are |
| Now, let us say that you stop using that email for | | | | about to buy domains from someone you don't |
| sometime and the email account is closed due to | | | | know - google the domain being sold to see if it is |
| inactivity. A thief could re-register that email and | | | | reported stolen. |
| request a password reminder from your domain | | | | You could also visit the various domain forums |
| registrar and hence - get access to your domains. | | | | such as Namepros and DnForum and do a search |
| 2. Safeguard your email password. If someone | | | | there for any reports of the domain being stolen. |
| gets a hold of your email password, he could then | | | | Following these steps should not only help to |
| change that password and lock you out of your | | | | protect you from domain name theft but |
| own email. | | | | ultimately protect you from losing money. |
| He then could proceed to request a password | | | | |