Yahoo Protects Domains From “Slamming”

In the past, many consumers fell victim to unprincipled long distance carriers which perpetrated a practice called “slamming” in which the carrier would switch them to their service without their permission. The FTC has taken action to prevent these unauthorized changes for telephone customers. Many people are unaware that a similar practice may threaten their Yahoo domains.

An unscrupulous third party may be able to change a domain’s name server information so that the domain is directed to a web host controlled by it. In addition, a domain registrar may transfer a domain to itself and charge the site owner its fees. Similarly, unauthorized parties may create subdomains on a site owner’s domain, which they use to host their own content. Some of these parties send “expiration notices” or “renewals” by regular mail or email pretending to be the company with which a site owner’s domains are registered. Although the actual identity of the “slammer” may be in the fine print, they pray on those who do not read it or those who have forgotten where they registered their domain.

Yahoo has taken steps to protect its customers by automatically locking its customers’ domains. Domain locking protects its customers’ name servers–the information that tells the Internet where to find customers’ websites and where to deliver their email. Protecting the name servers prevents the unauthorized transfers of their domains to other registrars or web hosts. In addition, Yahoo’s domain locking service will prevent customers from inadvertently making changes to their name servers that could prevent Yahoo from hosting their domain services properly.

Individuals and businesses signing up for a Yahoo web hosting plan have the option of unlocking their domains. Yahoo recommends that its customers only unlock their domains when they need to make changes to their name servers, however. Customers need to guard against replacing Yahoo’s default name servers, which would result in Yahoo no longer being able to provide any services associated with their domain.