Domain Security: Preventing Hijacking
Domain hijacking can devastate your business. Learn how to protect your valuable domains from theft and unauthorized transfers.
📖 15 min read
Types of Domain Attacks
- Social Engineering: Attackers impersonate you to your registrar.
- Phishing: Fake emails trick you into revealing credentials.
- Account Compromise: Weak or reused passwords get breached.
- DNS Hijacking: Attackers change your DNS records to redirect traffic.
Essential Security Measures
1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Always enable 2FA on your registrar account. Use an authenticator app (not SMS) for stronger security.
2. Enable Transfer Lock
Keep transfer lock enabled to prevent unauthorized domain transfers.
3. Registry Lock (Premium)
For high-value domains, enable registry lock. This adds manual verification at the registry level for any changes.
4. Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Your registrar password should be unique and stored in a password manager.
5. Secure Your Email
Your registrant email is critical. Compromise here means attackers can reset passwords and approve transfers.
DNSSEC
Enable DNSSEC to cryptographically sign your DNS records, preventing DNS spoofing attacks.
Audit Regularly
Review your domain portfolio, DNS records, and registrar account activity periodically. Look for unauthorized changes.