What is a domain name?

Let’s rewind to the beginning of the 21st century. All of us could memorize several phone numbers belonging to family and friends then. For today’s Gen Z, this task may be nearly impossible thanks to technology and smartphones. We can now speed dial our dear ones at the touch of a virtual button.

A domain name does something similar. It solves this problem of memorizing an IP address—a string of numbers that refers to the location of a website. With the help of a domain name, users can easily identify and remember thousands of websites and access them easily.

For instance, consider the URL https://www.simplotel.com. It has the following parts:

• https: protocol

• www: subdomain

• simplotel: domain

• .com: domain suffix

Why should you protect your domain name?

A domain name is one of the most prized online assets for any business. Some of the causes of domain name infringement are:

• Domain name expiration: once your domain name reaches its expiry date, every function related to it ceases to work. You lose authority over making any changes to your domain — your website and email will stop functioning.

• Inaccurate registrar contact details.

• Choosing a small-scaled domain registrar over a reputable one.

• Domain name theft: changing the registration of a domain illegally and without the registered owner’s permission.

How to secure your domain name

When using domain names, be wary of domain name scams and fraudulent renewal emails. It is necessary to stay alert and keep your domain secure. Follow these simple steps and be rest assured that your domain name will stay safe and protected!

• Find or partner with a reputable and trustworthy registrar: A well-known registrar always keeps you in the loop about your domain’s status, alerts you about renewals, and notifies you about malicious activities around your domain account. For instance, GoDaddy and MarkMonitor are some of the most reliable registrars you can sign up with.

• Next, lock your domain name: after registering it, navigate to the registrar's domain name management page, click on Registrar Lock and lock it. Unless you decide to unlock it, your domain name remains safe from getting transferred to another registrar.

• Choose a strong password: it is a protective wall that safeguards personal information about your domain. Using a strong password enables you to keep your domain name safe, and makes it harder for miscreants to transfer your domain.

• Register it under a person of high trust: this can be the company founder, owner or a certain entity. If disputes do arise, the domain registrar will only listen to the person whose email is registered with it.

• Set your domain name for auto-renewal: this helps with the renewal of your domain name before it hits expiration. However, ensure to keep your account billing information, and contact information valid and up-to-date to avoid blocks in payment and to secure confirmations.

• Check for accessibility: you may need to provide access to others frequently to make configurations in the domain. Do check if your domain provider gives you a way to grant temporary access, so that you can restrict access once work is completed.

When using domain names, be wary of domain name scams and fraudulent renewal emails. It is necessary to stay alert and keep your domain secure. Follow these simple steps and be rest assured that your domain name will stay safe and protected!