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.

 

[jedaprin]

I just make sure i have money in the account before i look for domain names

 

[Xiberia]

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.

Get a premium rate number, and... kerching!

 

[HotKey]

If the name isn't good enough to register right away, nothing lost nothing gained regardless of theories on why it was taken soon afterwards or a year later.

Generally take it as a good sign if you see your queried name is registered at some point, it means you're on the right track with naming because someone else saw value in it too and that's what investing is all about. As karmaco initially pointed out, to be safe don't search unless you are ready to buy. Otherwise be prepared to lose that opportunity.

 

[oldtimer]

It's understandable that people here only look at this problem from a domainer's point of view,

But consider the people in a small business or even a large company who have been brainstorming for several days to find what they feel is the perfect domain name for their project and when they finally decide to register it they find out that it was just registered the day before and put under privacy by someone else.

There are several culprits who STEAL other people's domain ideas:

The Registries,
which in the case of .com Verisign openly makes the list of domain searches available for others to take advantage of.

The Registrars,
It's a well known fact that Registrars and their employees pass around domain search lists to others like hotcakes.

Whois look up sites,
Including even the one from ICANN that have access to domain searches

ISPs and anyone else that has access to your Internet connection legally or illegally (including the hackers).

Search engine and other sites,
That you might have used to research your domain ideas.

The sites you use online to store your files and documents,
Which might somehow be accessible to others.


And in some cases the little mice that live inside your home or the flies on your walls that might see it as an added opportunity to take advantage of any new ideas that you might have come up with (including but not limited to new inventions, business ideas and plans, new designs, proprietary information, or even a new tune or song that you might have come up with).

But regardless of who has access to your domain searches and research I believe that there should be a 60 day window that they should be required by law not to disclose your domain search and research info.

IMO

 

[Domainication]

I use "domainr.com" often to check availability instead of searching directly via a registrar.