WASHINGTON, D.C. - The FBI has announced they have shut down a prolific ransomware group known as “Radar/Dispossessor” and seized multiple internet domains and servers utilized by the cyber threat actors, reportedly headed up by an individual known by the code-name “Brain.” As part of the FBI’s enforcement actions, they have dismantled a plethora of servers utilized by Radar/Dispossessor to carry out their ransomware attacks, including three in the United States, … [Read more...]
Omni Hotels & Resorts Suffers Breach, Potentially Impacting Millions
DALLAS, TX - Last month, Omni Hotels & Resorts, a prominent hotel chain, experienced a cybersecurity breach that resulted in the theft of customer information. In an update on their website, Omni confirmed that the stolen data includes customer names, email addresses, postal addresses, and guest loyalty program information. However, financial information and Social Security numbers were not compromised. The breach was detected on March 29, prompting Omni to shut down … [Read more...]
Scammers Sending Emails from Spoofed Authoritative Domains Via Forwarding Flaws
LA JOLLA, CA - According to research conducted by the University of California San Diego, due to flaws inherent in the process of forwarding emails, the ability for scammers and attackers to send unsuspecting victims e-mails from the spoofed addresses of top-level government or corporate domains is actually much easier than many experts were initially suspecting, opening up disturbingly new and effective avenues for online fraud. The integrity of emails sent from … [Read more...]
Like A Dollar And A Dream, 4-Letter Domain “NFTS.com” Sells for Cool $15 Million Dollars
PALM BEACH, FL - A four-letter “.com” domain name has been purchased for the staggering price of $15 million dollars. NFTS.com was first registered approximately 18 years ago, likely for $10.00 or $20.00. Who knew that the letters “NFTS” would become a four-letter acronym for “non-fungible tokens,” - unique cryptographic tokens? Four letter domains, often referred to as "LLLL" domains, are relatively scarce. There are roughly 457,000 possible four-letter combinations and … [Read more...]
Domain Name Registrar Epik Feels It’s Being Deplatformed After PayPal Cuts Ties
SAMMAMISH, WA - After online payments system PayPal stopped offering services to Epik, the domain name registrar company says it’s being targeted on political grounds and not what Paypal has said to be a financial basis. A number of open letters have been posted by Epik responding to the issue, and the company cited that 'service risk' was the reason PayPal gave over the withdrawal of Epik’s support. While PayPal says it regrets the decision and the inconvenience caused … [Read more...]
It’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month; Stay Safe With Simple Online Tips
PALM BEACH, FL –The Attorney General of the State of Florida, Ashley Moody has issued a Consumer Alert in recognition of National Cyber-security Awareness Month. The video details some simple steps consumers can take to help avoid becoming a victim of various security threats and online scams such as those which target Internet users with tech support, malware, phishing and ransomware. Today more than ever, our daily lives are dependent on the internet. While advances … [Read more...]
Web Address Sells for $30 Million in Cash; Represents ‘Extraordinary’ Investment
PALM BEACH – A company which many ordinary people (non-industry) have probably never heard of called “MicroStrategy Incorporated” has announced it has sold an Internet web address, Voice.com for $30,000,000.00 in cash. As you can see, that’s a lot of zero’s in that number and represents what many who invest and trade in Internet domain names likely find so exhilarating about it. For those who are not that savvy when it comes to Internet domain names, this a “website … [Read more...]
Will JP Morgan’s Launch of Cryptocurrency Further Squeeze Domain Name Sales?
NEW YORK, NY – It’s been a very interesting few years recently hasn’t it? As if there weren’t enough reasons for your typical domain name investor to diversify his online bets, here comes another big one. Financial powerhouse JP Morgan Chase has announced it will be launching its own cryptocurrency called "JPM Coin" with a fixed rate value of $1. The move solidifies a [sort of] ‘questionable’ industry with instant validity in my opinion as JP Morgan acts as the first major … [Read more...]
Phishing: Watch-out for New Dangerous Godaddy Email Phishing Attempt
NEW YORK, NY - This is just a quick reminder to remain vigilant of all sorts of threats from hackers, email-spoofers, phishers and scammers; you can never let your guard down these days when it comes to your accounts, financial information and especially your domain accounts, because loss of your domain name can be loss of your business and will likely be permanent. Just this week news broke about an Equifax hack that hit credit histories of up to 143 million … [Read more...]
How To Build an $8.7M Business Capturing Just 1% of the Marketplace or Competition
NEW YORK, NY - According to a financial statement uncovered by Domain investor, George Kirikos, the Cars.com web site address was recently valued at a staggering $872,320,000. If you were ever going to try and mimic a successful online business model, this could be a fantastic place to start (The entire business itself was valued at $2.5 Billion Dollars). Think about it like this, if you could make a business that was valued at, or worth, even just a tiny, tiny, percentage … [Read more...]
Making Their Mark: “Big Brands” Invest Hundreds of Millions on .Dot Alternatives
NEW YORK, NY - Regardless of what your position is on new gTLD domains "Big Brands" are buying in hook, line and sinker while ICANN is raking in hundreds of millions of dollars on new gTLD fees. Each new application cost its applicant $185,000.00 and with it, an annual maintenance fee of $24,000.00 (yearly recurring). This doesn't include potentially hundreds of generic domains that were applied for and went to auction (I didn't count each one [Full statistics here] … [Read more...]
Majority of Top 100 Highest .net Domain Sales of All Time Just Going to Waste
Looking at the top 100 (reported) highest priced .net domain name sales of all time it is pretty clear to see that the majority of them are not even being used; what a shame. The list below ($8.8 million dollars in domain sales) illustrates how the majority of people buying .net domains over the years are either investors or those who feel that these premium .net domains are not worth building a foundation on. The great majority of these .net domains either redirect, are … [Read more...]
17 of the Most Profitable Business Industries in America; Highest Profit Margins and Why
If you operate a small business and focus on client acquisition there are certain industries or 'niches' which generally do better than others. In-other-words, some niche businesses may be more likely to signup for tools to increase profitability, simplify their business processes, for services poised at increasing their own client base, or services including advertising, and/or promotional opportunities. Listed below is a group of industries in the United States which are … [Read more...]
Well Holy Smokes: U.S. Internet Ad Revenues Hit Landmark $59.6 Billion in 2015; Record-Breaking Numbers
Q4 2015 Reached $17.4 Billion, Rising 23% Over Same Period in 2014; Mobile Advertising Climbs to $20.7 Billion in 2015, a 66% Upswing Year-Over-Year; Digital Video Increases 30% to $4.2 Billion NEW YORK, NY - U.S. digital advertising revenues reached an all-time high of $59.6 billion in 2015, according to the full-year IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report, released April 21, 2016 by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and prepared by PwC US. This marks a 20 percent … [Read more...]