Domain Name Security Tips for Australian Businesses

Domain Name Security Tips for Australian Businesses

In today's digital landscape, your domain name is more than just an address; it's a crucial asset for your Australian business. It represents your brand, provides a gateway for customers, and underpins your online identity. Unfortunately, domain names are also prime targets for cybercriminals. Protecting your domain from hijacking, theft, or misuse is paramount. This article provides essential security tips and best practices to help Australian businesses secure their domain names and safeguard their online presence.

1. Choosing a Strong Password

The first line of defence for your domain name is a strong, unique password. This password protects your account with your domain registrar and allows you to manage your domain settings. A weak or compromised password can grant unauthorised access to your domain, leading to serious consequences.

Best Practices for Password Creation:

Length: Aim for a password that is at least 12 characters long. The longer the password, the harder it is to crack.
Complexity: Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using personal information such as your name, birthdate, or pet's name.
Uniqueness: Never reuse the same password for multiple accounts. If one account is compromised, all accounts using the same password become vulnerable.
Password Manager: Consider using a reputable password manager to generate and securely store your passwords. These tools can create strong, random passwords and remember them for you.
Regular Updates: Change your password regularly, ideally every 90 days. This helps to mitigate the risk of a compromised password being used against you.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Using easily guessable passwords like "password123" or "123456".
Using personal information in your password.
Reusing the same password across multiple accounts.
Writing down your password in an insecure location.

Scenario: Imagine a small business owner who uses the same simple password for their domain registrar account and their email. A hacker gains access to their email and then uses that access to reset the domain registrar password, effectively stealing the domain. This scenario highlights the importance of unique and strong passwords.

2. Enabling Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your domain registrar account. Even if a hacker manages to obtain your password, they will still need a second factor to gain access. This second factor is typically a code sent to your mobile phone or generated by an authenticator app.

How Two-Factor Authentication Works:

Significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised access to your account.
Provides an extra layer of protection even if your password is compromised.
Is easy to set up and use.

Enabling 2FA with Your Domain Registrar:

Most reputable domain registrars offer two-factor authentication. The process typically involves:

• Logging into your domain registrar account.

• Navigating to the security settings.

• Enabling two-factor authentication.

• Following the instructions to link your mobile phone or authenticator app.

Entries recommends enabling 2FA on all accounts that support it, especially those related to your domain name and website.

3. Regularly Monitoring Your Domain

Regularly monitoring your domain name is crucial for detecting and preventing potential security threats. This involves checking your domain settings, WHOIS information, and DNS records for any unauthorised changes.

Key Monitoring Activities:

WHOIS Information: Verify that your WHOIS information (contact details associated with your domain) is accurate and up-to-date. This information is publicly accessible and can be used by cybercriminals to target you with phishing attacks or attempt to hijack your domain.
DNS Records: Check your DNS records for any unauthorised changes. DNS records control how your domain name is translated into an IP address, which is the address of your web server. If your DNS records are compromised, visitors to your website could be redirected to a malicious site.
Domain Registrar Account: Regularly log in to your domain registrar account and review your settings. Look for any suspicious activity, such as changes to your contact information, DNS settings, or domain lock status.
Renewal Dates: Keep track of your domain renewal dates and ensure that your domain is set to auto-renew. Allowing your domain to expire can make it vulnerable to being snatched up by cybercriminals.

Tools for Domain Monitoring:

WHOIS Lookup Tools: Use online WHOIS lookup tools to check your domain's registration information.
DNS Record Checkers: Use online DNS record checkers to verify your DNS settings.
Domain Monitoring Services: Consider using a domain monitoring service that automatically monitors your domain for changes and alerts you to any potential issues. You can learn more about Entries and how we can assist with this.

4. Understanding Domain Locking

Domain locking is a security feature offered by most domain registrars that prevents unauthorised transfers of your domain name to another registrar. When a domain is locked, it cannot be transferred without your explicit authorisation.

How Domain Locking Works:

When your domain is locked, a special status code is added to your domain record. This code prevents other registrars from initiating a transfer request. To transfer your domain, you must first unlock it through your domain registrar account.

Benefits of Domain Locking:

Protects your domain from unauthorised transfers.
Provides an extra layer of security against domain hijacking.
Is easy to enable and disable through your domain registrar account.

Enabling Domain Locking:

Most domain registrars enable domain locking by default. However, it's always a good idea to check your domain settings to ensure that your domain is locked. To do this, log in to your domain registrar account and navigate to the domain management section. Look for an option to enable or disable domain locking. Ensure it is enabled.

When to Unlock Your Domain:

You will need to unlock your domain if you want to transfer it to another registrar. Before unlocking your domain, make sure you have a valid authorisation code (also known as an EPP code or transfer key) from your current registrar. This code is required to initiate the transfer process with the new registrar.

5. Protecting Your WHOIS Information

WHOIS is a public database that contains information about domain name registrations, including the name, address, and contact details of the domain owner. While this information can be useful for legitimate purposes, it can also be exploited by cybercriminals for spamming, phishing, and other malicious activities.

Options for Protecting Your WHOIS Information:

WHOIS Privacy: Many domain registrars offer WHOIS privacy services that mask your personal contact information in the WHOIS database with generic contact details. This helps to protect your privacy and reduce the risk of being targeted by spammers and scammers. This is often offered as an add-on service, and it is generally worth the cost for the added security.
Redacting Information: Some registrars allow you to redact certain information from the WHOIS database, such as your phone number or email address. However, this may not be as effective as WHOIS privacy, as your name and address will still be publicly visible.

• Using a Business Address: If you are a business owner, consider using your business address instead of your home address in the WHOIS database. This can help to protect your personal privacy.

GDPR and WHOIS:

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has had a significant impact on WHOIS. Under GDPR, domain registrars are required to redact certain personal information from the WHOIS database for individuals residing in the European Economic Area (EEA). However, this does not apply to businesses. If you are an Australian business owner, your WHOIS information may still be publicly visible unless you opt for WHOIS privacy.

By implementing these domain name security tips, Australian businesses can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to cyber threats and protect their valuable online assets. Remember to stay vigilant, monitor your domain regularly, and keep your security measures up-to-date. Considering what we offer at Entries can provide further peace of mind. If you have frequently asked questions, please consult our FAQ page.