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Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

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51–60 of 95 posts

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#51
In general if you're using it for legit purposes it's hard to take a domain taken even for big brands. You have it first, and unless you're using it for a competitor or to defame them it's hard to claim malice. They should have checked the name was able for them to use before using it.

But do make sure you have auto-renew setup etc. If you lose it, they can nab it fast and it'd be hard to get it back.

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#52
post #49

Domain investor here. Some, but not all of the advice here is absolutely dreadful and is an example of why you should not take advice from random strangers on the internet. Some basic rules if you wish to keep the domain: * Don't offer to sell the domain. If you are contacted by a prospective buyer, just decline, saying that the domain is not for sale. Don't counter-offer or enter into discussions or negotiations. *…

You are a random stranger on the web giving good advice, though.

And now I am concerned for the domain I use for our family email addresses, which is not related to our last names (well, it has the initials of me and my wife, but then I added a random number to make it available. It's 3 letters domain)

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#53

I don’t understand, what’s the emotional attachment? Put the domain up for sale and hire a broker, the money could be life changing for you.

I'm sorry, but I can't explain it. Some people are sentimental and are attached to items and memories. People are different. It's important for me for some reason, which I can't comprehend.

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#55
post #2

To prevent domain hijacking: Tip 1: Pick an enterprise-class domain name registry. Tip 2: Set up 2FA that isn't phone-based. Tip 3: Request DNSSEC from your registrar.

Regarding tip number 1, how can one find an enterprise-class domain name registry? Any advice?

Most enterprise class registrars (registry =/= registrar) are brand protection and brand monitoring services. Quite expensive for individuals and probably not in the price range of OP, according to the description of his circumstances.

I've used name.com, namecheap.com, sav.com and porkbun.com as registrars without difficulty, although one will always find anecdotal reports of problems other users have had with any service.

GoDaddy, on the other hand, is to be avoided. It's like the PayPal of domains. Awful customer service and dark patterns everywhere.

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

‘Their name’ If it’s your family name, what can they do but bleed you in legal costs? It depends on the country maybe, but I would not part with that domain in my country if it’s my family name and registered ages ago (clearly not to try to blackmail that company). Not sure anyone should. Horrible advice.

Why spend the money defending a $5 domain name, especially when you're not making any money by having it? It's just a name, and if you're not a registered company, you're going to be seen as a squatter no matter what. All I'm suggesting is to be prepared to have the domain ownership contested and have a backup if you have to change domains.

> I spent like a year or so to save up for it, which cost roughly 6 months of average net salaries in my country about 7 years ago.

It wasn't $5.

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They picked a bad registrar for a .com then, because they're dirt cheap.

They probably bought it from someone as it wasn't free at the time.

Correct. It was already registered and up for sale.

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why spend the money defending a $5 domain name, especially when you're not making any money by having it? It's just a name, and if you're not a registered company, you're going to be seen as a squatter no matter what. All I'm suggesting is to be prepared to have the domain ownership contested and have a backup if you have to change domains.

> All I'm suggesting Not really, you are stating, matter of factly, that the big evil corp will own it and you are basically screwed. This is not true (in places I know, but might differ somewhere) if it’s not squatting and it’s actually your family name. It’s beyond reasonable. Also, I find this capitalist overlord cynicism really quite annoying. I would help OP with legal fees to prevent this from happening. Just l…

That's kind of you, but will hopefully never be necessary.

Re: Ask HN: How to prevent a company from taking my domain name?

#60
post #8
post #2

To prevent domain hijacking: Tip 1: Pick an enterprise-class domain name registry. Tip 2: Set up 2FA that isn't phone-based. Tip 3: Request DNSSEC from your registrar.

And secure the email addresses used for your registrar account with 2FA, and disable weak recovery methods.

Done.
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