Web Hosting Reviews & Ratings

April 11, 2011

Unconventional Methods of Domain Hijacking Revealed

Domain hijacking has become a popular topic amongst hosting security enthusiasts and webmasters, as it has become an increasingly popular method used by hackers during the past couple of years. Domain hijacking is basically a type of cyber theft in which an individual forcefully and unjustly obtains ownership and control of the domain without the consent of the domain owner. This can be done in many ways, including but not limited to infecting a victim's computer with viruses (i.e. – keyloggers and trojans), obtaining login credentials using deceitful practices (i.e. – fraudulent e-mails claiming to be from established business partners such as web hosting providers), and utilizing powerful software to hack into a hosting account and change the ownership details. While these methods are the most commonly seen, cyber criminals are constantly finding new unconventional methods to steal domains.

Hackers Using Semi-Legitimate Methods to Steal Domains

A new wave of domain hijackers has emerged, and instead of trying to steal domains using sneaky tactics, they're doing it out in the open with the assistance of established Internet authorities. Some domain hijackers are overstepping their trademark rights by filing UDRP (Uniform Domain Dispute Resolution Policy) complaints against website owners claiming that they are violating trademark laws. Domain hijackers file these reports in hopes of having the current domain ownership revoked and handed over to them. Sadly, most domain hijackers that utilize this method are actually large companies that have a significant amount of trademark rights and corporate leverage.

Why Is It Becoming so Popular?

Hijacking domain ownership in the aforementioned manner provides a number of considerable advantages over stealing domain ownership in less legitimate ways. First and foremost, if the domain hijacking is successful the hijacker will be able to prove that they now own the domain, and that it was seized from its previous owner due to “copyright infringement". Essentially, by hijacking a domain using trademark loopholes large companies can limit competition and save money by acquiring competitive domain names that are relevant within their niche for free. Unfortunately, most of the time this type of domain hijacking goes unnoticed, and it can be very difficult to dispute a domain seizure, especially when your opponent is an established corporation.

Reclaiming Ownership of a Hijacked Domain

Without the appropriate legal and financial resources it can be very difficult to file a legal action against the domain hijacker. However, with a bit of diligence and knowledge about the ACPA (Anti-Cybersquatting and Consumer Protection Act) you'll be able to regain ownership of the hijacked domain in no time. The ACPA provides guidelines that protect domain registrants from unjust trademark claims that could possibly lead to unethical competitive strategies. While it is possible to regain ownership of the domain by filing a complaint in conjunction with the ACPA, it is not possible to regain the profits lost during the time the domain was not in your ownership. Thus, preventing domain hijacking by utilizing web hosting notifications and taking the necessary security precautions is the best way to avoid a loss in  profit due to domain theft.

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