Protecting your domain name is at least as important as registering it. A domain name is a valuable digital asset: it is your online identity, your brand and often an important traffic channel. Yet many website owners take insufficient measures to secure their domain name against loss, theft and abuse. In this complete guide you will learn how to protect your domain name with practical steps you can take today.

Risks to your domain name: what can go wrong?

Before we get into how to protect your domain name, it is important to understand which risks exist. Knowing the threats helps you protect your domain name with targeted measures.

Domain hijacking

Domain hijacking is the unauthorized takeover of a domain name. An attacker gains access to your registrar account and moves your domain to another registrar or changes the nameservers. This can happen through stolen login credentials, social engineering at the registrar, or by exploiting security holes. The consequences are far-reaching: you lose control over your website, email and online identity. Read more about what domain hijacking is and how to protect yourself against it in our detailed article.

Domain expiration

One of the most common ways to lose your domain is simply forgetting to renew it. When your domain registration expires, the domain goes through a grace period (usually 30-45 days) and then a redemption period (30-60 days, with high fees to get it back). After that the domain is released and anyone can register it. So always make sure automatic renewal is switched on.

Phishing and impersonation

Attackers register domains that look a lot like yours (typosquatting) to mislead visitors. Think of theory-7.net, theori7.net or theory7.com if you own theory7.nl. These look-alike domains are used for phishing, stealing customer data or damaging your brand image.

Social engineering attacks

With social engineering, an attacker pretends to be the domain owner and convinces the registrar to make changes. This can be by phone, by email or even with a fake ID. Registrars have procedures to prevent this, but the risk can never be fully eliminated, especially with smaller registrars that have less strict verification processes.

Protecting your domain name: 8 essential steps

The good news is that with relatively simple measures you can protect your domain name against all of the threats mentioned. Here are the eight most important steps we recommend to every domain owner.

1. Enable a registrar lock (transfer lock)

The registrar lock (also called transfer lock or domain lock) is your first line of defense. When this lock is enabled, your domain cannot be moved to another registrar unless you manually disable the lock first. This prevents an attacker who gains access to your account from moving your domain away right away. Most registrars offer this feature for free and with many providers the lock is on by default.

Check today whether the registrar lock is enabled. Protecting your domain name starts with this simple step. At Theory7 it is activated by default for maximum protection.

2. Strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA)

Your registrar account is the key to your domain name. To protect your domain name, this account must be well secured. So protect this account with a strong, unique password that you do not use anywhere else. A good password is at least 12 characters long and contains a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. Preferably use a password manager.

Even more important is enabling two-factor authentication (2FA). With 2FA you need a second factor in addition to your password to sign in, such as a code from an authenticator app or a hardware key. Even if an attacker knows your password, they cannot sign in without the second factor. Turn on 2FA at your registrar, and do not forget to secure your email account with 2FA as well, because a password reset can be requested through your email.

3. Activate WHOIS privacy

By default, your contact details (name, address, phone number, email) are visible in the public WHOIS database. Attackers can use this information for targeted phishing attacks or social engineering. With WHOIS privacy (also called ID protection or privacy protection), your personal details are replaced by those of a proxy service.

At Theory7, WHOIS privacy is included by default with all domains. For .nl domains, SIDN already shows limited information, but for international domains (.com, .eu, .org) WHOIS privacy is a must to protect your domain name.

4. Turn on automatic renewal

It sounds simple, but forgetting to renew a domain is one of the most common causes of domain loss. Turn on automatic renewal at your registrar and make sure your payment method is up to date. Regularly check whether automatic renewal is still active and whether the linked credit card or bank account has not expired.

Some registrars send reminder emails before your domain expires. Make sure these emails arrive by keeping your contact details at the registrar current. It is also wise to set a reminder in your own calendar as an extra backup.

5. Set up multiple contacts

Do not register your domain only in the name of one person, but arrange for multiple authorized contacts. This is especially important for companies. If the only contact leaves the company, gets sick or becomes unreachable, no one else can make changes or renew the domain. Set up at least a technical contact and an administrative contact.

Also make sure the contact details at the registrar are always current. If your company moves, changes phone number or an employee leaves, update the details right away. Outdated contact details can make it difficult or impossible to prove ownership of your domain in disputes.

6. Activate DNSSEC

DNSSEC (DNS Security Extensions) protects your domain against DNS spoofing and cache poisoning. Without DNSSEC, an attacker could theoretically forge DNS answers and redirect visitors of your website to a fake site. With DNSSEC, DNS answers are digitally signed, so browsers can verify that they receive the correct answer.

You activate DNSSEC at your registrar and it is free with most providers. For .nl domains, DNSSEC is actively supported and recommended by SIDN. After activation, a DS record is added to the registry that confirms the authenticity of your DNS zone. It is a simple but effective way to protect your domain name against advanced attacks.

7. Keep the registrar contact email up to date

To protect your domain name, the email linked to your registrar account is crucial for your domain security. Through this email address you receive renewal reminders, security warnings and transfer authorizations. If this email address no longer works or is not managed by you, you can lose control over your domain.

Preferably use an email address that does not depend on the domain you are protecting. If you use info@yoursite.nl as your registrar email and your domain expires, you can no longer receive email to solve the problem either. Use a separate email address (for example from Gmail or another domain) as a backup.

8. Registration under the company name (not personal)

Do you want to protect your company domain name? If you register a domain for your company, do so in the name of the company, not your personal name. This prevents legal complications if an employee leaves the company and claims to be the owner of the domain. The registrant (owner) in the WHOIS database should be the company, with the Chamber of Commerce number as a reference.

When registering a domain name you can often choose between a personal and a business registration. Choose business if the domain is for business purposes. This also offers more legal protection in domain disputes.

Protecting your domain name failed? Here is how to get your domain back

Despite all precautions, it can happen that you lose control over your domain. Fortunately, there are various legal and administrative procedures to get your domain name back.

UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy)

Protecting your domain name through legal means? The UDRP is an international dispute resolution process set up by ICANN. It is intended for cases in which someone has registered a domain that infringes your trademark right. The procedure takes an average of 2-3 months and costs between 1,300 and 5,000 euros, depending on the number of panelists. The UDRP is effective for .com, .net, .org and most other generic extensions.

SIDN dispute resolution (for .nl domains)

For .nl domains, SIDN has its own dispute resolution that is faster and cheaper than the UDRP. Through the SIDN dispute committee you can file a complaint if someone has a .nl domain that infringes your rights. The procedure takes about 6-8 weeks and costs start at around 1,500 euros. The advantage is that this procedure is specifically tailored to Dutch law.

In serious cases of domain hijacking you can take legal action. A lawyer specialized in IT law or intellectual property can start summary proceedings to demand the return of your domain. This is more expensive than the UDRP or SIDN procedure, but can deliver faster results and offers the possibility to also claim damages.

Protecting your domain name with monitoring and alerts

Proactive monitoring is an important part of protecting your domain name. By monitoring changes you can act quickly. By monitoring changes to your domain registration and DNS settings, you can detect suspicious activity early and take swift action.

There are various ways to monitor your domain. Many registrars offer email notifications when there are changes to your account or DNS settings. External services such as DomainTools and SecurityTrails offer advanced monitoring with alerts for WHOIS changes, DNS changes and certificate issuance. For companies with multiple domains there are enterprise solutions that provide a full overview.

In addition to technical monitoring, it is wise to regularly (monthly or quarterly) review your domain portfolio. Check whether all domains are still renewed, whether the contact details are correct, whether the registrar lock is still active, and whether no unexpected DNS changes have been made.

Protecting your domain name through defensive registration

A proactive strategy to protect your domain name against abuse is defensive registration of variants. This means that in addition to your primary domain you also register variants and alternative extensions to prevent others from using them to harm your brand.

Do you want to protect your domain name through defensive registration? Then consider the following: register your domain name with the most popular extensions (.nl, .com, .eu, .be if you operate in the Benelux), register common typos of your domain name, register variants with and without hyphens, and also consider the plural form or abbreviations of your company name. Redirect all these extra domains to your primary website with a 301 redirect.

Defensive registration costs money (each extra domain is an annual expense), so weigh the costs against the risk. For large brands it is a necessary investment. For small companies, registering the .nl and .com variant is often enough.

Theory7 domain security features

Protecting your domain name is standard at Theory7. We take the security of your domain name very seriously. That is why we offer an extensive set of security features by default to protect your domain name.

Our domain security features include: registrar lock enabled by default on all domains, free WHOIS privacy for all extensions that support it, DNSSEC support for .nl and other extensions, two-factor authentication for your account, automatic renewal reminders by email, and a user-friendly control panel with audit logging of all changes.

In addition, our Dutch customer service offers personal help with domain security questions. Whether you need help setting up 2FA, activating DNSSEC, or requesting a domain transfer: we are here for you. Register your domain name with Theory7 and benefit from our extensive security measures.

Frequently asked questions about protecting your domain name

How do I prevent my domain name from being stolen?

The most important measures are: enable the registrar lock, use a strong unique password with two-factor authentication, activate WHOIS privacy, and keep your contact details current. For business domains: register under the company name and set up multiple contacts.

What is a registrar lock and should I enable it?

A registrar lock prevents your domain from being moved to another registrar without your explicit permission. It is a free security measure that you should always enable, unless you are actively moving your domain.

My domain has expired, what now?

If your domain has just expired, you usually have a 30-45 day grace period to still renew it at the regular price. After that comes a redemption period of 30-60 days in which renewal is possible but with extra costs (often 50-100 euros). After the redemption period the domain is released.

Is WHOIS privacy needed for a .nl domain?

SIDN already shows limited WHOIS information for .nl domains (no address or phone number). Still it is wise to activate WHOIS privacy if your registrar offers it, so that your name and email address are also shielded. For international domains (.com, .eu) WHOIS privacy is an absolute must.

Should I register multiple extensions of my domain name?

For brand protection it is advisable to register at least the .nl and .com variant. Whether you need more extensions depends on your market and brand value. For large brands, defensive registration of multiple extensions and typos is common.

Protecting your domain name: a step-by-step plan for companies

For companies, protecting your domain name is an essential part of the digital strategy. A structured step-by-step plan helps you not to overlook anything.

Building a domain portfolio

Take inventory of which domain names your organization owns and which you still need to register. In addition to your main domain, also register common misspellings, alternative extensions and product-related domain names. Create a spreadsheet with all domains, their expiry date, registrar and purpose. This overview prevents domains from expiring by accident or from paying twice for similar names.

Setting security per domain

Not every domain needs the same level of security. For your primary company domain we advise Registry Lock, DNSSEC, two-factor authentication on the registrar account, and WHOIS privacy. For secondary domains, a Registrar Lock with automatic renewal is often enough. Redirect domains only need a lock and automatic renewal.

Periodic check and audit

  • Monthly – Check whether all domains resolve correctly and whether there are no unauthorized DNS changes
  • Quarterly – Review your domain portfolio: are new domains needed or can some be cancelled?
  • Yearly – Carry out a full audit of registrar accounts, contact details and security settings
  • When staff change – Immediately change passwords and remove access rights of employees who have left

Theory7 is an official SIDN registrar, official EURid registrar and official DNS.BE registrar. As an accredited registrar at multiple registries, you register domain names directly, without an intermediary. This means faster processing times, lower costs and full control over your domain management.

Protecting your domain name: costs and investments

The costs to protect your domain name vary depending on the level of security. Basic security (registrar lock and automatic renewal) is usually free or included with your domain registration. WHOIS privacy costs five to ten euros per year per domain. DNSSEC configuration is free with most providers. A Registry Lock for business-critical domains costs between fifty and two hundred euros per year, depending on the registrar. If you own multiple domains, the costs can add up, but compare this with the potential damage of a lost domain. For a company that depends on its online presence, losing a domain name is potentially devastating for revenue and reputation. Protection is therefore always a wise investment.

Protecting your domain name at Theory7

Theory7 offers extensive options to protect your domain name. By default, a Registrar Lock is active on every domain that blocks unauthorized transfers. Automatic renewal prevents your domain from expiring by accident. DNSSEC configuration is available for extra DNS security. With our clear dashboard you always have insight into all your domains, their expiry dates and security status.

Start protecting your domain name today. The investment in security is minimal compared to the potential damage of domain loss.

Protecting your domain name: an action plan for today

Do not put this off: check today whether your domain is locked at your registrar. Verify that the contact details are current and that two-factor authentication is enabled on your registrar account. Check whether the domain is not about to expire and turn on automatic renewal. Register variations of your domain name to prevent typosquatting and fully protect your online identity against malicious third parties.

Want to know whether a domain name is still available? Use our free domain name checker to check this right away.

Is it already too late and is your domain in quarantine? Do not panic, read how to move your domain name out of quarantine to another provider.

Free tool: Use our WHOIS Lookup tool. Instantly check the registration details, nameservers and expiry date of any domain.

Sources and references

  • SIDN - Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland (sidn.nl)
  • ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (icann.org)
  • Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (kvk.nl)