What Every Business Needs to Know About the Risks of Domain Hijacking

Table of Content

• Introduction

• What Is Domain Hijacking?

• How Domain Hijacking Happens

• The Business Risks of a Hijacked Domain

• Preventing Domain Hijacking: Best Practices

• Conclusion
   

Introduction

A company’s domain name is one of its most valuable digital assets. It serves as a business’s online identity and gateway to customers. However, many businesses overlook the growing threat of domain hijacking, which is a form of cyberattack where criminals gain unauthorized control over a domain name.

Domain hijacking can have devastating consequences, including website downtime, customer data breaches, phishing scams, and reputational damage. Once a domain is hijacked, recovering it can be time-consuming, costly, and—if not addressed quickly—may permanently impact a brand’s credibility.

In this article, we’ll explain what domain hijacking is, how it happens, and what businesses must do to prevent domain takeovers before they happen.
 

What Is Domain Hijacking?

Domain hijacking occurs when a third party unlawfully takes control of a domain name, often by exploiting security vulnerabilities in domain registrar accounts or DNS settings. Once an attacker gains access, they can:

• Redirect web traffic to fraudulent or malicious websites.

• Intercept company emails, leading to phishing scams or data theft.

• Sell the domain on the dark web or demand a ransom for its return.

• Damage brand reputation by posting misleading or harmful content under a company’s name.

Losing control of a domain can impact business operations rapidly, making domain security an essential part of a company’s overall cybersecurity strategy.
 

How Domain Hijacking Happens

Cybercriminals use various techniques to hijack domains, including:
 

1. Phishing & Social Engineering Attacks

Attackers impersonate domain registrars, sending fake emails or phone calls to trick employees into providing login credentials.

2. Registrar Account Compromise

Weak passwords, lack of two-factor authentication (2FA), and outdated security settings make it easy for attackers to hack domain registrar accounts.

3. DNS Spoofing & Cache Poisoning

Hackers manipulate DNS records to redirect users to fake websites, often used for phishing attacks or malware distribution.

4. Expired Domain Exploitation

When businesses fail to renew their domains, cybercriminals quickly register them and use them for fraud, phishing scams, or impersonation.

5. Unauthorized Domain Transfers

Without domain locking or security protocols in place, bad actors can transfer a domain to another registrar without authorization.
 

The Business Risks of a Hijacked Domain

A hijacked domain can lead to severe financial and reputational damage. Here’s what businesses risk:

• Lost Revenue – If an e-commerce site is hijacked, all customer transactions are redirected elsewhere, causing an immediate financial hit.

• Reputation Damage – Fake websites impersonating a brand can spread false information, post offensive content, or defraud customers.

• Data Breaches – If attackers intercept emails, sensitive company and customer data could be exposed, leading to regulatory fines.

• SEO & Traffic Loss – A hijacked domain can be blacklisted by search engines, causing a loss of visibility and rankings.

Preventing Domain Hijacking: Best Practices

To protect your business from domain hijacking, consider implementing these security measures:
 

1. Choose a Secure Domain Registrar

Work with ICANN-accredited registrars that offer robust security features like two-factor authentication, domain locking, and real-time monitoring.

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Use MFA on all domain registrar accounts to prevent unauthorized access, even if login credentials are compromised.

3. Activate Domain Locking & Registry Lock

• Domain Locking prevents unauthorized domain transfers.

• Registry Lock adds an extra layer of security, requiring manual verification for critical changes.

4. Register Key Domains & Variations

• Secure multiple TLD variations (.com, .net, .org, .store, etc.) to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting your brand.

• Monitor domain registrations for similar names that could be used for phishing attacks.

5. Implement WHOIS Privacy Protection

Enable WHOIS privacy settings to prevent hackers from accessing domain ownership details used for phishing or social engineering attacks.

6. Set Up DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC)

DNSSEC adds cryptographic security to your domain’s DNS records, reducing the risk of DNS hijacking and cache poisoning attacks.

7. Monitor & Renew Domains on Time

• Enable auto-renewal to prevent accidental expiration.

• Monitor domain expiration dates to ensure critical domains don’t lapse.
   

Conclusion

Domain hijacking is more than an IT issue. It’s a business-critical risk that affects revenue, reputation, and customer trust. As cyber threats evolve, brands must take a proactive approach to domain security by implementing strong authentication, defensive registrations, and continuous monitoring.

Securing your domain portfolio today, will allow you can safeguard your business from potential hijacking attacks in the future.

Nominus helps businesses protect their digital assets with domain management, trademark protection, and cybersecurity solutions.