Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Name Security

How long is my Domain Name registered to me?

Your domain name will remain registered to you for as long as the registration is active; that is, if you purchased a one-year registration, then your domain name will be registered to you for one year from the date of purchase; two-year registrations are good for two years, and so on.

NOTE: Network Solutions' registration fees are lower when domain names are registered for longer periods; by registering for two or more years, you save money as well as the peace of mind derived from knowing that your domain name is protected.

What happens if my registration expires?

If your Domain Name registration expires, the name becomes available for general purchase - and will perhaps be purchased by someone other than yourself! This is a good reason to place your Domain Name registrations on autorenew. (See below)

What is autorenew?

Autorenew simply authorizes Network Solutions to bill your credit card for renewal at the end of your registration period. There is no extra charge for autorenew, and it protects you against loss of your domain name as a result of plain forgetfulness.

What if the domain name I want isn't available?

Network Solutions provides a service that will watch for domain name availability, and alert you when then desired name becomes available again.

Additionally, we can help you discover if the domain you desire is available for purchase from the current registrant.

How do I find out who that registrant is? What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a public database of all domain names and their registrants; the database includes personal information such as phone numbers and physical mailing addresses of registrants.

Can I keep my personal information private and unavailable in WHOIS?

Network Solutions provides Private Registration, which keeps your personal information confidential and enhances your privacy; private registration carries a small additional fee, and can also be set to autorenew.

Can I transfer existing domain names to Network Solutions?

Absolutely - the domain transfer process is simple, automated, and carries a small fee.

How do I keep other people from transferring my domain names?

Network Solutions offers Domain Protect, which locks your registration and prevents it from being transferred by any unauthorized person.

What is cybersquatting?

Cybersquatting occurs when someone registers a specific domain name, or group of related domain names, particularly those identical or similar to trademarks or business names, in hopes of being able to resell those domain names to businesses or individuals who have rights to the domain name.

In 1999 the U.S. government enacted the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act which imposes stiff fines and penalties on those who register domain names for purposes of demanding money from legitimate trademark holders and businesses.

While the Act curtailed cybersquatting somewhat, it remains a good idea to incorporate your business and trademark the domain name (see below) representing your corporation.

What Are Zone Transfers?

The Internet - and the countless domain names and addresses that comprise it - is divided into zones, which allow for efficient and rapid communications through Domain Name System (DNS) servers which coordinate and reconcile the various addresses throughout the Internet.

Legitimate zone transfers permit hand-offs and coordination among the various DNS nodes.

Illegitimate zone transfers are rare, but represent one approach hackers take to launching DoS and DDoS attacks. (see below)

What is a DoS or DDoS attack?

Denial Of Service (also known as Distributed Denial Of Service when multiple computers are used in the assault) attacks attempt to flood Internet connections with so much information - e-mail, requests, etc. - that the connection's bandwidth is overwhelmed and the site (or server) at the targeted domain name or address is rendered unable to function.

Web hosting services - the company on whose servers your business's Web site, for example, resides - have a variety of defenses against DoS and DDoS attacks, including changing the digital address of the server to which your domain name points, thus rendering the malicious traffic unable to find a target.

How is DNS security achieved?

Modern domain name system servers have a variety of tools for protecting against the many threats that the domain name system faces. These include firewalls and other protective software, but also involve sophisticated tools for identifying and verifying the actual, legitimate identity of all requests and communications a server receives, and blocking illegitimate requests from accessing or compromising the server.

What is phishing?

Phishing - also known as brand spoofing - is a criminal activity that uses official-appearing e-mail (ostensibly from a bank or business) to invite recipients to a Web site that looks equally official, including recognizable business logos and symbols. Once at the phony site, the visitor is asked to provide credit card, Social Security or other sensitive information. Typically, phishing scams involve the use of domain names that are similar to the domain of the authentic brand that is being spoofed.

What is pharming?

Pharming creates an illegitimate copy of a real Web site, and redirects traffic to the phony site in order to obtain information. The redirection is often accomplished by hacking into the business's legitimate DNS and changing Internet addresses in order to steer customers to the criminal site.