When you decide to start your own company website, besides choosing the right web host provider, you are also required to choose your site’s domain name. But what exactly is a domain name? Today’s article focuses on explaining to you what a domain name is and how to protect it. Let’s start with the basics.
What is a Domain Name?
When using client software to access a website, a domain name is a sequence of characters corresponding to a numeric IP address. A domain name is just the text that a client enters into their browser to access a specific website. Although a website’s true address is a complicated IP address, users can now go to specific websites by typing in human-friendly domain names.
You should remember that the domain names are controlled by domain registries. As soon as you register a domain name, you will need to provide the WHOIS data (email, phone number, address, company name, and administrative and technical contact information). The thing is, this information is then made public, meaning anyone can assess your sensitive data. If you want to discover what happens in the background of things, feel free to learn about WHOIS. Now, let’s see what you can do about it!
8 Ways That Help You Protect Your Domain Name
One of a company’s most precious assets could be its domain name. Therefore, whether you’ve had your domain name for a while or just recently bought it, you should be cautious about securing it so that you don’t lose it as a result of carelessness, fraud, or illegal behavior.
1. Register It To The Proper Entity
A domain name that contains a company’s logo ought to be addressed to that business. If a person leaves a company, has a disagreement with a corporation, etc., allowing that person to establish a company domain name in their personal name is causing issues.
2. Lock Your Domain Name
A domain name can be locked relatively easily using a straightforward setting commonly accessible on a registrar’s domain name control page. Once locked, a domain name cannot be moved to another registrar or registrant until you unlock it.
3. Use a Trustworthy Registrar
Many large corporations deal with ‘corporate registrars’ that are skilled at managing domain names. You must choose a well-known and responsive retail registrar with an established market presence and reputation.
It would be foolish to register a domain name only because it’s cheaper. What happens if your registrar goes out of business? You wouldn’t be able to get the needed assistance if you ever need it in the future.
In other words, using a trustworthy registrar doesn’t only secure your domain name but also brings other benefits to your company. For example, GoDaddy is one of the most famous domain name registrars that helps you increase your business’ profit.
4. Register Your Domain Name For as Long as Possible
Many domain names can be maintained for ten years or more, so registering one today reduces the possibility that it will expire because you forgot to update it.
5. Choose the ‘Auto Renew’ Option
Before it expires, you should refresh your domain registration. Just ensure that you renew your payment details when your credit card dates and keep the latest payment option on file, such as a credit card, available at all times.
6. Be Aware of Domain Name Scans
Regrettably, dishonest registrars and other malicious actors online frequently attempt to scam domain name owners into paying unauthorized fees or transferring their domain names without their knowledge.
When unsure, delete or dismiss suspicious emails relating to domain names and get in touch with your registrar immediately if you have any concerns or issues.
7. Consider What Kind of Information You Provide
Be wise about the personal details you include in your signup and keep them up to date. To give your registrar a variety of ways to contact you, think about utilizing various contacts for the registrant, admin, and tech contacts, for instance.
Additionally, avoid using an email address that contains the domain name that is the focus of the registration because your operator may not be able to reach you at that address if there is an issue with the web domain.
8. Choose a Strong Password
This needs to be handled with the same level of caution as a password for a highly sensitive website or an electronic bank account. If you don’t, someone else might be capable of obtaining your domain names, unlocking them, and transferring them without your knowledge.
Final Thoughts
Creating a domain name is pretty straightforward. The real job is keeping it safe. This is the unique name for your online page, so you wouldn’t like anyone to have access to it, right? That’s why you should always keep in mind these security tips, and you will indeed be safe.