Hijacking Domain Names

Interesting story is developing about certain registrars hijacking unregistered domain names.

I just registered a new domain name and was having difficulty pointing the new NS1 and NS2 Name Servers to the newly registered domain name. Name Servers (NS1, NS2, etc.) are a type of pointer that point to where the website is hosted. Apparently it takes some time once new name servers are created, for the NS1.Names and NS2. Names to propagate on the World Wide Web. So, I will have to wait a little while for the new name servers to be found before I can select the name servers in the domain name control panel area.

Now, here is where the story gets a little interesting. I decided to type in the name of the new domain name to see what comes up. Typically when someone types in a domain name that is unregistered the browser will return site not found or something like that.

When I typed in the new website and several other site variations, the browser returned a Financial Freedom Website. This seems very very strange and I wonder if this is allowed by ICANN in which an unregistered domain name be directed toward some other website.

My registrar found this very interesting also and is further checking out what is going on.

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Auctioning Domain Names

I just recently heard about the secondary market for auctioning old domain names

Apparently there is such a demand for the expired domain names that registrars are now setting up a place to bid. The winner of the bid gets to have it.

Now, from a standpoint of hearing that, it sounds like a good idea. However, if someone has set out to get an expiring domain name using one of the services provided by the registrars and it is somewhat of a more visible domain name, is there financial insentive to hold off giving the expired name to the company requesting it? Could some of the unethical registrars actually buy the name themselves and then place it up for auction?

Certainly there have been large companies that buy thousands of expired domain names in order to try and gather the traffic flow from these sites. Eventually this traffic flow subsides, or if it does not subside, visitors will quickly click off the website when they see it is not what they wanted. Typically these types of websites have advertisments only with many links or copied text from others. The content value dimishes with the search engines over time. So, these companies spend their dollars continually scarfing up old website domains.

I am sure there are some ethical registrars that follow proper procedures and would not try to squeeze an individual or business. There probably is a code of ethics or ICANN maybe has some sort of procedure in place to help with Auctioning Domain Names.

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Your Network Solutions

Dealing with domain name transfers and account changes can be very difficult with some of the Domain Name Registrars.

To transfer your domain name from one registrar to another sometimes requires jumping through a number of network hoops.

Recently I received a request for help on getting their domain name renewed and updated with the correct account information and administrator on record at the place where it was registered. This particular place wanted to charge an arm and a leg to have the registration renewed. I suggested a Domain Name Transfer to a New Registrar.

Under ICANN (Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers) policies, domains can be transferred from one ICANN-accredited registrar to another by contacting the new registrar and initiating an Initial Authorization for Registrar Transfer form. Most registrars have a menu system to initiate the process. See: FAQ for Domain-Name Holders

Once this process is initiated, an email is sent to the current administrative contact with a security code (Auth-Info Code is a unique code generated on a per-domain basis) that must be entered into the process at the new location. It is imperative to have access to the old registrar in order to perform certain items to allow the transfer to go through.

One: must unlock the domain name. When the domain name is in a locked mode the name is protected from any types of transfers.

Two: must be able to receive the transfer request as the administrative contact. If you are not the Administrative Contact then you will have to either, contact the person who is, or change the administrative contact person in the control panel. If you do not have access to either of these then see: The importance of keeping your administrative contact information close to you.

Three: make sure the whois is updated. Note: updating the administrator does not necessarily change the whois data base. Network Solutions for example, makes it so that changing or adding a new administrator does not change the whois area. It takes a lot of looking around and scanning to the bottom of one of the pages to find the whois update link.

Once these criteria are meet then initiate the transfer request. Transfer requests must be allowed unless certain other items are present. Refer to the FAQ for Domain-Name Holders.

Completing the transfer can take up to five days under the ICANN rules. If difficulties arise contact your new registrar.

Bottom line

If your company has many domain names locked away for potential future use and your current registrar is charging thirty dollars or more per name, that can add up to large dollars annually. Most domains can be registered for less than eight dollars a year or additional savings if done for extended years.

My recommendation is Godaddy.com for all your domain name registration needs.

If you need assistance services in this area contact Professional Web Services for help. We offer full Internet marketing, Online advertising, and SEO services and Online solutions for the B2B and B2C industries.