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Domain Security
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Domain Security Best Practices: Protect Your Domain from Hijacking and Attacks

Comprehensive security guide covering transfer locks, DNSSEC, authentication, and protection against modern threats

Why Domain Security Matters More Than Ever

Your domain name is one of your most valuable digital assets. It's your brand, your email system, your website, and often your entire online presence. Losing control of your domain—through hijacking, unauthorized transfers, or DNS attacks—can devastate your business, destroy customer trust, and result in significant financial losses.

In 2024, researchers discovered that over a dozen Russian-linked actors are conducting "Sitting Ducks" attacks, hijacking legitimate registered domains at DNS services by exploiting poor configuration and insufficient prevention efforts. These attacks demonstrate that domain security threats continue to evolve and intensify.

This guide provides actionable security measures to protect your domain from hijacking, unauthorized transfers, DNS attacks, and other threats. Implementing these best practices will significantly reduce your risk and ensure your domain remains under your control.

Critical Security Measure #1: Transfer Locks (Registrar Locks)

The Most Important Protection Against Domain Hijacking

The best prevention from domain hijacking is a domain lock, also called transfer lock or registrar lock, which ensures no one can transfer your domain to another registrar without authorization. One of the fastest ways attackers take over a domain is by transferring it to another registrar, and transfer locks prevent this.

What Transfer Lock Does:

  • Prevents unauthorized transfers: Domain cannot be moved to another registrar while locked
  • Free at all registrars: Standard security feature, no cost
  • Easy to enable: Usually just a checkbox in your registrar control panel
  • Can be unlocked when needed: You can disable temporarily for legitimate transfers

How to Enable Transfer Lock

Steps vary by registrar, but generally:

  1. Log into your domain registrar account
  2. Navigate to domain management or domain list
  3. Select the domain you want to protect
  4. Look for "Domain Lock," "Transfer Lock," or "Registrar Lock"
  5. Enable the lock (toggle to "On" or check the box)
  6. Verify the lock status shows as "Locked" or "Enabled"

⚠️ Critical Action Required:

Check your domains right now. If transfer lock is not enabled, your domain is vulnerable to unauthorized transfers. Enable it immediately for all important domains.

Registry Lock: Ultimate Protection for Critical Domains

For mission-critical domains, consider registry lock (also called registry-level lock), which provides even stronger protection than standard transfer lock:

  • Higher security level: Lock applied at registry level, not just registrar
  • Multi-step unlock process: Requires phone or email verification to remove
  • Prevents DNS changes: Some registry locks also prevent nameserver modifications
  • Typical cost: $100-250/year per domain
  • Recommended for: High-value domains, corporate brands, critical infrastructure

Critical Security Measure #2: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Protect Your Registrar Account

To prevent DNS hijacking attacks, implement strong access controls and the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) for administrative access. If attackers gain access to your registrar account, they can change DNS settings, transfer your domain, or completely take over your online presence.

MFA Security Benefits:

  • Blocks password theft: Even if attackers have your password, they can't access your account
  • Prevents phishing success: Attackers need both password AND second factor
  • Required by many registrars: Increasingly becoming mandatory for domain management
  • Multiple methods available: Authenticator apps, SMS, hardware keys

Best MFA Methods for Domain Accounts

✅ Most Secure: Hardware Security Keys

  • Physical devices (YubiKey, Titan Key, etc.)
  • Phishing-proof and extremely secure
  • Recommended for high-value domains
  • Cost: $25-70 per key

✅ Highly Secure: Authenticator Apps

  • Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, 1Password
  • Time-based one-time passwords (TOTP)
  • Works offline, no cell signal needed
  • Free and easy to set up

⚠️ Less Secure: SMS Text Messages

  • Vulnerable to SIM swapping attacks
  • Better than nothing, but not recommended for critical domains
  • Use only if authenticator apps aren't available

Additional Account Security Measures

  • Strong unique password: Use password manager to generate and store complex password
  • Separate email for domains: Don't use personal email for domain registrations
  • Enable login notifications: Get alerts when someone accesses your account
  • Review access logs: Regularly check for suspicious login attempts
  • Secure recovery email: Ensure backup email is also well-protected

Critical Security Measure #3: DNSSEC

Protecting Against DNS Spoofing and Cache Poisoning

DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) authenticates DNS responses and ensures data integrity. DNSSEC makes DNS records more trustworthy by verifying them with cryptographic keys. Without DNSSEC, attackers could redirect your visitors to fake websites without your knowledge.

What DNSSEC Protects Against:

  • DNS spoofing: Attackers can't forge DNS responses
  • Cache poisoning: Invalid DNS data can't be injected into caches
  • Man-in-the-middle attacks: DNS data tampering is detected
  • Traffic redirection: Visitors can't be silently redirected to malicious sites

How DNSSEC Works

DNSSEC uses digital signatures to verify that DNS responses are authentic and haven't been tampered with:

  1. Your DNS zone is signed with cryptographic keys
  2. Public keys are published in DNS records (DS and DNSKEY)
  3. When someone queries your domain, the response includes a signature
  4. Resolvers verify the signature matches the published keys
  5. If verification fails, the response is rejected as invalid

How to Enable DNSSEC

Steps to Enable DNSSEC:

  1. Check DNS provider support: Ensure your DNS provider supports DNSSEC (Cloudflare, Route 53, etc.)
  2. Enable in DNS provider: Turn on DNSSEC in your DNS management panel
  3. Get DS records: Your DNS provider will generate DS (Delegation Signer) records
  4. Add to registrar: Submit DS records to your domain registrar
  5. Verify propagation: Test DNSSEC with online tools (dnsviz.net, etc.)

⚠️ DNSSEC Management Warning:

DNSSEC requires careful management. Incorrect configuration or expired keys can make your domain completely unreachable. Only enable DNSSEC if you understand the maintenance requirements or use a managed DNS service that handles DNSSEC automatically.

Protection Against Specific Threats

Sitting Ducks Attacks (2024 Threat)

In 2024, researchers found that over a dozen Russian-linked actors are conducting "Sitting Ducks" attacks, in which hackers hijack legitimate registered domains at DNS services. The attacks exploit poor configuration and insufficient prevention efforts.

How Sitting Ducks Attacks Work:

  1. Domain points to DNS provider but isn't properly claimed/configured at provider
  2. Attacker creates account at same DNS provider
  3. Attacker claims the "abandoned" domain at DNS provider
  4. Attacker now controls DNS records while you still own domain at registrar

How to Prevent Sitting Ducks Attacks:

  • Properly configure DNS: Ensure domain is fully set up at your DNS provider
  • Use same provider: Consider using registrar's DNS service for integrated security
  • Monitor DNS changes: Set up alerts for nameserver changes
  • Regular audits: Verify all domains are properly configured quarterly

Email Authentication Protocols

Implement email authentication to prevent domain spoofing and protect your brand:

  • SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Specifies which servers can send email from your domain
  • DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Cryptographically signs outgoing emails
  • DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication): Tells receivers what to do with emails that fail SPF/DKIM

Combined with DNSSEC, these protocols provide comprehensive protection against email-based attacks and domain spoofing.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Continuous Security Monitoring

Essential Monitoring Practices:

  • Expiration monitoring: Track domain renewal dates, set reminders 90 days in advance
  • DNS monitoring: Alert on any nameserver or DNS record changes
  • WHOIS monitoring: Track changes to registrar, registrant, or contact information
  • SSL certificate monitoring: Ensure certificates are valid and not expiring
  • Account activity: Review login history and account changes monthly

Regular Security Audits

Conduct quarterly security reviews:

  • ☑️ Verify transfer locks are enabled on all domains
  • ☑️ Confirm MFA is active and working
  • ☑️ Check DNSSEC status and key expiration
  • ☑️ Review authorized account users and remove inactive ones
  • ☑️ Update contact information for critical notifications
  • ☑️ Test domain recovery procedures
  • ☑️ Verify DNS records are correctly configured

Server and Infrastructure Security

Combine domain security with proper infrastructure security:

  • Regular updates: Keep DNS servers and related infrastructure patched
  • Firewall rules: Restrict DNS query sources and protect against DDoS
  • Backup DNS: Use multiple geographically distributed authoritative nameservers
  • Centralized monitoring: Use security information and event management (SIEM) systems

Domain Security Checklist

Immediate Actions (Do Today):

☑️ Basic Protection (Required for All Domains):

  • □ Enable transfer lock on all domains
  • □ Set up MFA on registrar account
  • □ Use strong unique password with password manager
  • □ Verify contact email is secure and monitored
  • □ Set domain auto-renewal to prevent expiration

☑️ Enhanced Protection (Recommended for Business Domains):

  • □ Enable DNSSEC
  • □ Set up DNS monitoring alerts
  • □ Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for email
  • □ Use separate email account for domain management
  • □ Enable login notification alerts
  • □ Document domain ownership and access procedures

☑️ Maximum Protection (For High-Value Domains):

  • □ Enable registry lock ($100-250/year)
  • □ Use hardware security key for MFA
  • □ Implement 24/7 DNS monitoring
  • □ Conduct quarterly security audits
  • □ Maintain relationship with registrar support
  • □ Have documented recovery procedures

Key Takeaways

  • •Enable transfer lock immediately—it's free and prevents most domain hijacking attempts
  • •Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on registrar accounts—preferably with authenticator apps or hardware keys
  • •DNSSEC protects against DNS spoofing and cache poisoning attacks
  • •"Sitting Ducks" attacks in 2024 highlight importance of proper DNS configuration
  • •Registry lock ($100-250/year) provides ultimate protection for mission-critical domains
  • •Implement email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to prevent domain spoofing
  • •Monitor domains continuously for expiration, DNS changes, and unauthorized access
  • •Conduct quarterly security audits and maintain documented recovery procedures