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How Domain Checkers Can Stop Cyberattacks Before They Happen

by Ahona Rudra on August 13, 2024

Reading Time: 5 min

Today, as advancements are being introduced in almost every field, cyber threats are also becoming more sophisticated. To prevent these cyber attacks, businesses need to implement proper defense strategies.

According to research conducted by Terranova Security, it is estimated that by the end of 2024, the cybersecurity threats will grow to $300 billion.

Domain checkers play a crucial role in preventing cyber attacks even before attacks happen. These are the tools that scan the domain name and monitor their registrations. It can detect any suspicious activity that might indicate a future cyber attack.

If you want to know about the role of domain checkers in the prevention of cyber attacks and the benefits it brings to the domain owners, you are at the right place!

How Do Domain Checkers Work?

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A domain checker is an online tool for verifying the availability or functional status of a domain name. It reviews the domain name in databases and tells if it is available or taken.

First, the user writes the desired domain in the tool’s search box. The domain checker tool then looks up domain name in domain name databases to update the user about the its availability.

For the domain names that have already been taken, the tool will provide information about the domain’s registration. This information will include the owner’s contact details and the expiration date of the domain.

Some domain checkers also provide additional features. Users can use them to check the registration of a previous domain or to register a new one.

Types of Domain Checkers

The three types of domain checkers that exist include:

Ordinary bulk domain checkers
Advanced bulk domain checkers
Domain suggestion tools

Simple Bulk Domain Checkers

This form of domain checker is usually provided by the Domain Registrars. A simple bulk domain checker works by telling you if a domain name is registered or not. They provide a search box where you can enter the domain name you want to check. The domain checker processes this list and gives the available domain names.

Advanced Bulk Domain Checkers

The advanced bulk domain checkers provide the opportunity to check TLDs. But these domain checkers are not available everywhere. Every domain registrar may not offer them. Here, you can check keywords in addition to domain names. You can also check thousands of domain names in a single go.

Domain Suggestion Tools

As the name indicates, Domain suggestion tools suggest names for a domain. They don’t necessarily check domain names; some checkers also work as name spinners. All you have to do is to enter a keyword and it will generate a domain name based on those keywords.

The Role of Domain Checkers in Cybersecurity

Domain checkers can prevent cyber attacks with early detection and monitoring of domain status.

Early Detection of Threats

Domain checkers help identify fake unregistered domains. It helps prevent cyber attacks by tracking top-level domains. This early threat detection is essential to secure a domain from spoofing attacks.

Monitoring Domain Health

Some domain checkers have advanced domain monitoring features to identify domain-level threats. It allows domain owners to fix these issues before they can have a significant impact on the domain’s health. It centralizes the users monitoring efforts by reducing the time spent on conducting manual checks.

Steps to Secure Domains From Cyber Attacks

The following steps will help you secure your domain from cyber attacks efficiently.

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Select a Reputable Domain Registrar

A domain registrar is a company that is responsible for managing domain name registrations. Register your domain to the registrars, accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The domain’s registrar’s reputation says a lot. It is important to prioritize their reputation above the features and packages.

Opt for the Longest Registration Period

The most vulnerable time for domains is when they expire. This is the most suitable time for attackers to take over your domain using malicious ways. This can be avoided by minimizing the downtime between registrations.

You need to register your domain for the longest time possible. This eases the monitoring of the domain by avoiding the re-registration processes. Long-term registration can add stability to your brand’s domain as well.

Activate Registry Lock

Enabling a registry lock is an effective way to prevent unauthorized domain transfers. It is an essential feature in protecting domains from attackers and helps prevent domain hijacking, where attackers attempt to take control of your domain by modifying registration data.

However, a registry lock alone is not sufficient. Additional authentication processes between the registry and registrar are also necessary. These can include the use of security PINs, mobile phone verification, and designating an authorized individual to manage domain changes.

Ensure Domain Access Security

It is a quick way to increase domain security. The majority of domain registrars demand login credentials. This limits unauthorized access to the domain. In addition to access security, you must also consider additional security features provided by the domain registrars.

This extra security allows only authorized personnel to access your domain.

Prepare Your Domain for Preloading

HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) preloading enhances your domain security. It involves the submission of your domain to a browser’s HSTS preload list. Once your domain is included in the preload list, browsers will always enforce an HTTPS connection to your website, even before the first HTTP request is made.

This ensures a secure connection and reduces the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks and certain types of phishing attempts.

Implement DMARC for Email Authentication

Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) helps protect your domain’s Email communication. It adds the SPF and DKIM authentication protocols to boost email security.

Also Read: How To Find DKIM Selector For My Domain?

DMARC helps prevent email spoofing attacks and adds an extra layer of authentication to make it difficult for hackers to reach the domain’s DNS.

Similar-looking domains are those that resemble the primary domain but differ slightly in spelling or have different top-level domains (TLDs). Attackers use the technique of ‘typosquatting’ to mislead users by creating these deceptive domains, which can harm your domain’s reputation.

To reduce this risk, it is advisable to register similar-looking domains through domain registrars. This prevents malicious actors from using these domains to deceive customers and exploit their data. By registering these look-alike domains, you can also redirect traffic from them to your main domain.

Establish a Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP)

A Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP) outlines how your organization handles vulnerability reports related to your domain. It details the entire process of receiving, assessing, and addressing these reports.

By implementing an effective VDP, you can collaborate with a legal team to ensure that your response to security vulnerabilities is both efficient and compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.

Conclusion

With the continuously increasing cyberattacks, there is an infinite number of threats targeting your domain. These attacks are getting more sophisticated with the advancements in technology. Some of these include domain hijacking, typosquatting, and domain registrar hacking.

But these attacks can be prevented before they happen. This can be done with the help of domain checkers as well as other security measures for well-rounded protection. Since your domain name is the online face of your organization, remember to protect it against the prying eyes of cybercriminals at all times!

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