It’s the unauthorized act of gaining control over a domain name. This means an attacker can change the domain’s registration or DNS settings without the legitimate owner’s permission. Scammers then use the domain for any purpose they choose.
How Does it Happen?
Credential Compromise. They might steal your login credentials for your domain registrar account through phishing or malware.
Expired Domains. If a person forgets to renew their domain registration, bad actors can quickly register that domain.
Malicious Domain Transfer. They can transfer the domain to a different registrar without the owner’s consent by gaining access to the domain name owner’s email address and then resetting the password to their domain name registrar.
What can be the consequences?
Website Redirection. Attackers can redirect your website traffic to malicious sites, spreading malware or stealing sensitive information.
Email Interception. They can intercept your email communications, potentially gaining access to confidential data.
Reputational Damage. It can severely damage your brand’s reputation and erode customer trust.
How to prevent?
Use Strong Passwords. Create complex, unique passwords for your domain registrar account.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Requiring a second form of verification adds an extra layer of security.
Keep Contact Information Up-to-Date. Ensure your contact details with your registrar are accurate.
Domain Locking. Use the registrar feature that locks the domain, preventing unauthorized transfers.
Be wary of Phishing. Be very cautious of any emails asking for your login credentials.
Regularly monitor your domain. Keep a close eye on your domain settings for any unauthorized changes.
By taking these precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of domain hijacking.