Protecting Your .locker Domain Registration
.locker domain names have two distinct uses online. In addition to being your Web3 digital identity, .locker is also your Web2 online identity for email and websites. Whether you’re running a business, a personal blog, or a portfolio site, losing access to your domain can have serious consequences. Fortunately, protecting your domain name registration doesn’t require deep technical knowledge, just a few smart practices to set you up for success.
Choose an ICANN-Accredited Domain Registrar
ICANN, or the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is the governing body of domain names with the goal of ensuring that we have a stable, secure, and unified global internet. Part of this is overseeing the relationship between domain registries and domain registrars with a standard Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA). Any registrar who signs an RAA is considered to be ICANN-accredited, meaning that they adhere to the rules and regulations as set forth by ICANN and its community policymakers. In short, ICANN-accredited domain registrars are generally considered to be safe and reputable organizations.
An alternative to choosing an ICANN-accredited registrar is a domain reseller operating on an accredited registrar’s platform. Resellers are also required to abide by the RAA of their parent registrar, offering you the same protections.
Consider ICANN’s accreditation as a global seal of approval that the entity managing your .locker domain will do so in a fair, regulated, and transparent manner.
Enable Auto-Renewals to Avoid Losing Your Domain
One of the easiest ways to safeguard your domain name is to enable auto-renew with your domain registrar. Auto-renew ensures that your domain name is automatically renewed once the initial registration period is complete. If a domain name is not renewed by the registrant, the registrar will begin the expiration and deletion processes. You do have a chance to retain ownership of your domain name if it enters the redemption period, but it will cost you a fee in addition to the domain renewal fee. If this isn’t completed, your domain will be deleted and will become available for registration to the general public. Auto-renew acts as a safety net in case you forget your expiration date or miss expiration notices.
Usually enabling auto-renew is a simple toggle within your domain management or billing panels. Contact your registrar for more information on how you can protect your .locker domain with auto-renew.
Keep Your Account Information Up to Date
One missed verification notice or security alert can jeopardize your domain registration. For this reason, you want to be sure your .locker’s registrant email address is up to date. Your registrant email is the primary method your registrar uses to communicate important updates and notices, including upcoming renewals and failed payments.
Speaking of failed payments, you always want to have valid credit card or payment information on file. If your registrar cannot successfully collect payment for the domain renewal, your domain will start the expiration and deletion process, putting you at risk for higher costs and potentially even losing your domain name.
Lock Your .locker
An excellent tool to protect your domain name is by using domain locks. Domain locks prevent unauthorized changes to your domain name, like a DNS change or a domain transfer. Locking a domain adds an extra layer of protection at the domain name level. Any change will require verification by you.
In addition to locking your domain name, lock your account from outsiders with two-factor verification (2FA). 2FA makes it harder for hackers, scammers, and malicious actors to access your accounts and domain names. If your registrar does not offer 2FA, consider transferring to another registrar that does.
Prevent Domain Hijacking
Domain hijacking is the act of changing the registration information of a domain name without permission in an attempt to transfer ownership away from the original owner. This can happen multiple ways: hacked accounts, social engineering, or even from internal account users. Unauthorized users will change the domain’s contact details, disable notifications, and then initiate a transfer to another registrar so they can fully take ownership of your domain. Domain hijacking can be difficult to prove and it is possible you never get your domain name back.
To prevent domain hijacking, you need to have a full security strategy. Enable 2FA, lock your domain, use unique and complex passwords, and assign the proper roles to internal contacts. Registrars have different domain contact roles which translate into different account permissions. For example, the domain owner has full control over the domain name. A tech contact may only be allowed to maintain billing. Check with your registrar for details on the permissions of each contact role and put them into practice.
Beware of Phishing Attacks
Phishing is a deceptive tactic used to trick you into giving up login credentials or other sensitive information, often by posing as your registrar or a trusted service. Phishing is one of the most common scams and phishing attacks have evolved over time to become more convincing. Scammers will pose as your domain registrar and try to solicit credentials and payments from you. Phishing has happened over the phone, via email, and even through social media.
Any time you receive a message from your domain registrar, make sure the email address and URL are legitimate by checking the sender and the domain name. Look carefully- scammers will try to mimic the registrar with similar domain names. Never click on suspicious links. When in doubt, contact your registrar through a trusted channel to verify the contact.
Your .locker domain name is a valuable digital asset. By taking a few proactive steps you can greatly reduce the risk of losing access or control of your domain. Small efforts now can save you from major headaches down the road. For more information on how to protect your account and .locker domain, contact your registrar.
