Domain name hijacking is a process where an online hacker gains unauthorised access to a target’s DNS (Domain Name System) without the consent of the authorised owner. There are several ways to protect your domain ID from hackers (as discussed below) who can then utilise the domain for malicious purposes they want, including blocking the owner’s access to it.

The domain name is one of the most important and valuable assets for online businesses. Any issues related to your domain address, such as domain hijacking or abuse of privileges on domain hosting, could lead to low website traffic, reduced user engagement, lost revenues, and a poor reputation for the business.

In this guide, we’ll understand domain hijacking in more detail, along with the threats that your domain faces and the strategies you can use to protect your domain ID from the malicious intent of hackers and spammers.

Understanding Domain Hijacking

Domain hijacking or domain theft by hackers occurs when an unauthorised user gains control over a domain name without the owner’s consent.

Put simply, domain hijacking involves altering the registration of a domain name without the consent of the original user. The process can be quite harmful to the business of the original domain name owner, with a range of  repercussions including:

  • Financial impact– Organisations that are dependent on their website for business can end up incurring huge financial losses when they lose control of the domain to hackers.
  • Reputational impact– Domain scammers can gain access of a hijacked domain’s ID and use the the same to facilitate a range of cyber attacks, such as installing malware or other malicious social engineering attacks.
Also Read: Understanding Domains: What They Are and How They Work

Ways to Protect Domain ID from Hackers and Spammers

Although domain hijacking is quite common, there are several ways you can prevent your domain ID from hackers and scammers. Here are some protective measures you can employ to keep hackers locked out from accessing your domain ID.

1. Pick a Reputable Domain or Hosting Provider

A domain service provider with subpar services increases the possibility of sensitive information being leaked out or your domain being hijacked.

It is therefore recommended to choose a reliable and renowned domain service provider. It will help you protect your domain ID and keep it safe from hackers and scammers.

A reputable hosting provider to get your domain ID helps you save costs and also ensures that your domain is managed by a service provider that takes security seriously.

2. Do Not Keep Sensitive Domain Information in Emails

A recent piece of statistics suggests that 2.9 billion records have been impacted in a massive data breach recently. The hackers here accessed sensitive personal information, meaning the chances of your email being misused by scammers are also quite high.

This makes your email a completely unsafe place to keep domain ID, account login credentials, or any other sensitive details.

In case you receive emails from your service provider that contain that type of sensitive information, it is best to move it to a secure location.

Also Read: Search and Register your Domain Name here

3. Enable an SSL Certificate

A Secure Sockets Layer or SSL certificate allows websites to securely send data using HTTPS, which is an encryption protocol. HTTPS implementation is important because it can help protect your visitors’ confidential data in case your website becomes compromised by hackers and spammers.

Here are some of the ways you can use to get SSL certificates-

  • Opt for a web hosting plan that includes SSL by default.
  • Make sure that your SSL certificates don’t expire.
  • Use a free service such as Let’s Encrypt for SSL certificates.

4. Prevent Unauthorised Domain Access

Another way to protect your domain from hackers is by preventing any kind of unauthorised domain access. Here are some of the ways to prevent unauthorised domain access-

  • Enable  2-factor authentication

Make sure to use 2fa or two-factor authentication, where a one-time password is generated in real time and sent to your device or email address. This makes it difficult for any unauthorised users, such as hijackers and scammers, to access your domain registrar account.

  • Choose a strong password

Many times, hackers and spammers can gain access to a domain because the owner’s credentials are the most commonly used login IDS and passwords (such as guest, admin, password123).

  • Limiting specific IP address access

In case you have multiple users working on a website and need to give them access to the domain account, make sure to mark their IP addresses as safe.

Safeguard your Domain ID with Crazy Domains

Domain ID security is one of the most important aspects to keep in consideration when running an online business. This is primarily because cyber criminals, hackers and scammers can impersonate your website and steal your sensitive data, leading to lost conversions or damage to your reputation.

 

By aligning yourself with a secure domain service company like Crazy Domains, you can make certain that your domain is supported by the newest security features. Our simple, innovative and affordable security solutions like domain locking, SSL certificates and WHOIS protection will enable you to enjoy a safe domain zone.

Sign Up Now to know more about Crazy Domains.