Domain Hijacking: What It Is and How to Keep Your Website Safe

Your domain name is more than just a web address – it’s an important asset owned by your business. But what happens when someone steals that asset right out from under you?

Domain hijacking might sound like something from a cybercrime thriller, but it’s a very real threat that can affect thousands of businesses every year. The good news? Understanding how domain hijacking works and taking some thoughtful steps can protect your online presence from falling into the wrong hands.

 

What is a Domain?

A website’s domain is the unique address where your website lives on the internet. It’s what visitors type into their browser’s address bar to find your site, like smartlinksolutions.com.

A domain name makes it easier to access to your website, rather than using the actual IP address, which is a much less user-friendly string of numbers. A great domain name is simple and memorable, and it’s the first step to creating a strong online presence.

 

What Is Domain Hijacking?

Domain hijacking occurs when someone gains unauthorized control of your domain name without your permission. Think of it as digital theft – except instead of stealing your wallet, cybercriminals are stealing your entire online identity.

When a domain is hijacked, the attacker essentially becomes the address’s new “owner” in the eyes of the internet. For businesses, this can mean losing years of brand building, customer trust, and revenue in a matter of hours.

This process typically involves gaining access to your domain registrar account – the company where you purchased and manage your domain name. (You probably know some of the popular ones, like GoDaddy and Squarespace.) Once inside, hijackers can redirect your website traffic wherever they want, intercept emails, and even sell your domain to the highest bidder.

What makes domain hijacking particularly dangerous is how invisible it can be at first. You might not realize anything is wrong until customers start complaining they can’t reach your website – or worse, until you discover someone else is using your domain for malicious purposes:

• • Phishing and scams
  • Distributing malware to your visitors
  • Disrupting your operations

 

What Can Happen If Your Domain is Hijacked?

Here’s what you could face if your domain falls into the wrong hands:

• • Loss of Control: Once hijackers gain control of your domain, your website goes dark, email stops working, and any subdomains you’ve set up become inaccessible. Getting control back can take weeks or even months, depending on your registrar’s policies and the complexity of the hijacking.

• • Financial Loss: The financial impact of domain hijacking can be devastating. Businesses often experience immediate revenue loss from website downtime, especially if they rely on online sales. There are also costs associated with legal fees, cybersecurity consultants, and potential ransom payments if hijackers demand money for returning your domain.

• • Reputational Damage: Perhaps the most lasting consequence of domain hijacking is the damage to your reputation. If hijackers use your domain to distribute malware, send spam emails, or host illegal content, your brand becomes associated with these activities in the minds of customers and search engines.

Even after regaining control of your domain, the damage can last for years. Search engines might blacklist your domain, making it difficult to regain your previous rankings and traffic.

 

Watch Out for Disreputable Service Providers

Here’s a scenario that catches lots of business owners off guard: You hire a web design company to build your website, but they register the domain under their name instead of yours. This means they own your domain, not you – and they can do anything they want with it. Some unethical providers even use this as leverage, essentially holding your website hostage until you pay tacked-on fees or agree to continue using their services.

To avoid this, it’s crucial to make sure you’re always listed as the domain’s registrant, or rightful owner. Here at Smart Link Solutions, we prioritize transparency by making you the owner of your domain from the start.

 

Other Ways Domain Hijacking Can Occur

Understanding how cybercriminals execute domain hijacking attacks can help you protect yourself. Here are some of the most common methods they use:

• • Weak Passwords: One of the easiest ways for attackers to gain access to your domain registrar account is through weak or easily guessable passwords. If you’re using “password123,” you’re pretty much leaving your front door wide open.

• • Phishing Attacks: Phishing remains one of the most effective tools in a cybercriminal’s arsenal. These attacks typically involve fake emails or faxes that appear to come from your domain registrar, warning you about account expiration or requesting that you “verify” your login credentials. Once you enter your information, the attackers have everything they need to access your account and hijack your domain.

• • Expired Registrations: Forgetting to renew your domain registration is like letting your lease expire and then being surprised when someone else moves into your apartment. Domain hijackers actively monitor expiring domains. The moment your domain expires, hijackers are often waiting to snatch it up.

 

 

Best Ways to Prevent Domain Hijacking

The good news is, there are effective ways to keep your digital asset secure:

• • Use Strong Authentication: Enable multi-factor authentication on your domain registrar account immediately. This adds a crucial second layer of security that makes it much harder for attackers to gain access, even if they have your password.

• • Regularly Update Your Passwords: Create strong, unique passwords for your domain registrar account and update them regularly. A strong password should be at least 16 characters long and include a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

• • Monitor Your Domain Expiration Dates: Set up auto-renewal for your domain registration and monitor the expiration dates closely. Most registrars offer email reminders, but don’t rely solely on these notifications – they can sometimes end up in spam folders or get overlooked.

• • Choose a Reputable Registrar: Select a domain registrar with a strong track record of security and reliability. While price is important, remember that your domain is a critical business asset that deserves premium protection.

• • Monitor Regularly: Make it a habit to regularly check your domain registration details for any unauthorized changes. Pay attention to any emails from your registrar about account activity, even if they seem routine. (Unexpected password reset notifications or account modification confirmations could be early warning signs of an attempted hijacking.)

• • Beware of Phishing: Always good advice. Stay vigilant against phishing attempts by carefully examining any emails claiming to be from your domain registrar. Legitimate companies will never ask for your password via email, and urgent requests to “verify your account” are often red flags. If you’re unsure about an email’s authenticity, contact your registrar’s customer support directly.

• • Educate Your Employees: Employees who have access to domain management should understand how to recognize phishing attempts and follow proper security protocols. Regular training sessions can help ensure everyone stays up-to-date on the latest threats and knows how to respond if they suspect a security incident.

 

Protecting Your Digital Future

Remember, your domain is one of your business’s most valuable assets. And, while domain hijacking represents a serious threat to brands of all sizes, it’s not inevitable. By implementing strong security measures, staying vigilant against threats, and working with reputable service providers, you can significantly reduce your risk and protect your online presence. Make sure you’re listed as the registrant with Go Daddy, or whoever you do your domain through.

For quality website design and management of your business’s online presence, look no further than Smart Link Solutions. With over 30 years of expertise in digital marketing, our team understands the key role of digital security in helping your business thrive.

For more information, call (866) 757 – 5100 or visit Smart Link Solutions today!