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Naming Rights
Depending
on which country you are in, different
rules apply regarding who can register a
domain name that has your company name
in it. In some cases you may need to
provide proof that you own the company
name (e.g. a business registration
certificate). In most cases, anyone can
register ‘generic’ addresses including
phrases (e.g.
www.fixmywashingmachine.com). If
someone else has already registered the
name you want, they own it for the
period that they have paid for.
Registration & Renewal
Domain
names are not permanently ‘owned’ –
instead they are registered for a set
period of time, usually 1, 2, 3 or 5
years. This is done with a company
called a ‘domain name registrar’. When
that period of time is up, the owner may
be advised that it’s time to renew the
registration. The details of the domain
name include contact details for both
the owner and a technical contact
(usually email addresses), so it’s
important to ensure that these details
are correct if you change email service
or technical support companies. If your
domain name registration expires, your
email and websites can stop functioning
and someone may be able to take over the
registration and become the new owner!
There are
many domain name registrars available on
the internet, handling both
international domains (e.g. .com, .net)
and national domains (e.g. .co.uk, .com.au).
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However,
there are also a number of questionable
companies that use underhanded tactics
to try and convince you to transfer your
domain name to them. If you receive
postal mail or email regarding the
renewal of your domain name, contact
your local Computer Troubleshooter to
ensure that it is
legitimate.
Other Services
A domain
name by itself is useless, much like
having a street address but no
building! To communicate with someone in
your ‘building’ you still need a phone
number for phone calls to go to and a
letter box for postal mail to go
into. Likewise, your domain name also
contains details for where your website
is stored and where your email needs to
go.
Passwords
Your
domain name registration comes with a
password to allow you or your technician
to alter the details of your other
services mentioned above. It’s only
really needed when things do change,
which makes it easy to lose! If your
domain name has old, incorrect email
addresses listed, then getting the
password reset can require things like
the business owner’s signature on
company letterhead paper. This tight
security is in place to prevent other
people from trying to reset your
password and gain control of your domain
name. Other security features include
locking your domain name so it can’t be
transferred to another domain name
registrar and hiding your contact
details from public view.
Domain
names are just one component of the
technology that makes your website and
emails work. Talk to your local Computer
Troubleshooter to ensure your
registration is current and protected.
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