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Local domains get an extra layer of protection

Your website is secure and your users are assured of this with the help of various security features such as a secure HTTP encryption and and various security certifications.

But what happens if a hacker hijacks your domain?

While we’ve heard of websites being cloned before, domain hijacking is a bit different as it involves getting a registrar to transfer the domain to another owner.

This can be accomplished by impersonating the original domain owner and convincing the registrar to transfer the domain which in and of itself, isn’t uncommon.

So why do we bring this up?

Well, in 2019 MyBroadband highlighted how the local .za domain space was severely lacking some basic security protocols.

One of those protocols is Registry Lock and the ZA Central Registry (ZACR) has now implemented the feature locally for a number of domains.

“Registry Lock is a function that can now be activated at the Registry level to prevent the unauthorised transfer of domain names for the following domain name extensions: co.za, net.za, org.za, web.za as well as the four gTLDs of .africa, .capetown, .durban and .joburg,” explains ZACR chief executive officer Lucky Masilela.

“The process is quite seamless, as it requires our channel partners (EPP-accredited Registrars) to provide the Registry with a passphrase via a telephonic validation process to enable changes, such as, updates, transfers and deletes to be processed on a selected domain name. Manual intervention, although not perfect, has the current benefit of not being easily manipulated like fully automated systems,” the CEO adds.

While that is going to come as a comfort to some website owners, Registry Lock isn’t free, nor is it a silver bullet.

In order to get Registry Lock you will need to get in touch with an EPP-accredited registrar. You can find a list of local registrars over on the ZACR’s website.

[Image – CC 0 Pixabay]

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