question How to prevent domain name searches from being stolen?

[Domain Name Invest]

Hello,

I don't know what methods you use to search for available domain names, personally I usually check their availability on Google Domains (I find their interface quite convenient for searches).

Lately I felt like looking for new domains to buy, and it turns out that a domain name that had not been re-registered since 2009 has just been registered barely a day after I detected it.... funny coincidence!

I suspect that some people are monitoring the searches made from some registrars, but maybe I'm a bit of a conspiracy buff...

If this is the case, how can we avoid having some domain names "stolen" as soon as they are detected?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

[karmaco]

They are not being stolen. Someone just beat you to it. Best way to handle this is to search when you are ready to buy.

 

[biggie]

Hi

the name can't be "stolen", if you didn't own it.

best to register it when you see it available, as others may have same idea as you.

procrastination can be your worse enemy in domaining sometimes.

imo...

 

[Mister Funsky]

I suspect that some people are monitoring the searches made from some registrars

They call it 'front running' in some circles and it is real.

Many free 'services' that provide for name checking (registration, stats, links, etc.) can also harvest searches in the event they want to. To be relatively sure no one will see a domain name you might want to register, simply go to:

https://lookup.icann.org/lookup

 

[iDat]

Hi

the name can't be "stolen", if you didn't own it.

best to register it when you see it available, as others may have same idea as you.

procrastination can be your worse enemy in domaining sometimes.

imo...

Procrastination can be worst in almost all situations, not just domaining.

 

[Domain Name Invest]

They are not being stolen. Someone just beat you to it. Best way to handle this is to search when you are ready to buy.

Hi

the name can't be "stolen", if you didn't own it.

best to register it when you see it available, as others may have same idea as you.

procrastination can be your worse enemy in domaining sometimes.

imo...

Indeed the term "steal" is not appropriate, but you understood that it was about "stealing" the searches made by someone else on the search bar of a registrar... Let someone else do the research for you and register the best available domain names found by the guy.

But you are right it would be better to search domains when I'm ready to buy...

 

[Domain Name Invest]

They call it 'front running' in some circles and it is real.

Many free 'services' that provide for name checking (registration, stats, links, etc.) can also harvest searches in the event they want to. To be relatively sure no one will see a domain name you might want to register, simply go to:

https://lookup.icann.org/lookup

Thanks for the explanation and the tip !

 

[Xiberia]

If you use Linux, install "whois".

If you use Windows, replace it with Linux and then install "whois".

Or: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/whois

 

[Domain Name Invest]

If you use Linux, install "whois".

If you use Windows, replace it with Linux and then install "whois".

Or: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/whois

Thanks a lot for these infos and this link, it will help me for sure !!

 

[bamboozle]

I’ve read about GoDaddy front running and doing other shady stuff so that’s why I don’t use them.

I do omit the extension when I search for a keyword. For example, on Namecheap, I type a keyword “crypto” and then search. This brings up crypto in all extensions on Namecheap. So Namecheap would never know which exact domain I was interested in, just the keyword.

 

[lock]

Use it to your advantage register what you want at time and add domains you plan on leaving behind keep putting them on hold leave them in cart. Keep looking up second third best. Satisfying to be spammed with them later.

 

[iDat]

If you use Linux, install "whois".

If you use Windows, replace it with Linux and then install "whois".

Or: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/whois

Nope does not always show correct.

Checked couple of names shows no records but when manually checked @ namecheap or dynadot, shows registered.

 

[Xiberia]

Nope does not always show correct.

Checked couple of names shows no records but when manually checked @ namecheap or dynadot, shows registered.

What names?

 

[iDat]

What names?

Can't disclose.

 

[jhm]

I pretty much have the same view as @karmaco...isn't really stealing, its just someone else got there

 

[karmaco]

I pretty much have the same view as @karmaco...isn't really stealing, its just someone else got there

Yes. There isn’t a domainer here who made a list by typing into a registrar and went back to register 1 day 1 week or 1 hour later and did not find something allready taken.

Its the nature of domaining as ideas are always floating around and we view the same drop lists and the same sold lists.

With all that being said, I agree with whoever said GD is the worst place to type a name in and not register it right away.

 

[Xiberia]

Can't disclose.

Why not?

 

[VadimK]

I agree with whoever said GD is the worst place to type a name in and not register it right away.

Absolutely. Back in the past there were quite a few extremely suspicious cases for me with GD, and not talking about hot topics (meta, crypto, NFT - at that time these weren't popular), to the point that I simply stopped using GD Bulk search at all, and never regretted ever since.

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

Net sol monitors names we search at their site. 3 times i have gotten a phone call asking if I needed assistance registering a name they saw i had searched for. Last time i logged in i searched NetSolCan Suck**** .com of course, never got call back
If you dont think registrars record names searched at their site, your sadly mistaken.

 

[mr-x]

Hello,

I don't know what methods you use to search for available domain names, personally I usually check their availability on Google Domains (I find their interface quite convenient for searches).

Lately I felt like looking for new domains to buy, and it turns out that a domain name that had not been re-registered since 2009 has just been registered barely a day after I detected it.... funny coincidence!

I suspect that some people are monitoring the searches made from some registrars, but maybe I'm a bit of a conspiracy buff...

If this is the case, how can we avoid having some domain names "stolen" as soon as they are detected?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Like my Mom used to say.. the best time to buy something is when you find it.