Domain Hijacking Tools (aka NetworkSolutions.Com)

[Thomas Keays]

During a discussion on this list last fall on the topic of domain hijacking, 
Lida Pinkham forwarded a link to a page describing how these things happen
and pointing out the "flaws in InterNIC's domain name handling system".

  <http://www.securiteam.com/securitynews/Domain_Hijacking__A_step-by-step_guide.html>

Things have changed for the worse.

If you go to Network Solutions, InterNIC's primary domain registration
site for the US, and enter a search for a known domain, you will find, 
along with the results for available, similarly named domains, a link
reading "Back-Order zzzzz.com NOW!" which takes you to an "affiliate"
company that, for $69, will monitor and secure that domain name for
you.

  <http://www.netsol.com/>
  <http://www.snapnames.com/>

In SnapNames own words:

    Is the domain name you want already taken?  If so, like hundreds of 
    thousands every month, it may soon expire and become available again. 
    You can now "back-order" your name with SnapBack. 

    When you Back-Order a name: 
    - SnapBack will monitor the name around the clock, "24/7", so you don't 
      have to. 
    - If it becomes available during the next year, SnapBack will attempt to 
      acquire the name for you the moment it becomes available. 

It goes on to describe the costs and what happens if you don't successfully
hijack someone's domain.  Note the cost for stealing a domain is only
slightly higher than buying a new one.  I bet the cost of buying your
domain back from the hijacker will cost rather more.  

Be vigilant.  Domain theft is now sanctioned behavior and Network Solutions
is giving you the tools to do it right.



--
Thomas Keays    Syracuse University Library    htkeays at syr.edu
Syracuse NY 13244-2010      315/443-9769      315/443-5549 fax