MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -For anyone who wants to add an element of silliness to their website address, Google Registry is giving them the opportunity to do so with the release of the new top-level domain “.meme.” While a meme is classically defined as “an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture,” in recent years popular culture has put a slightly different spin on the phrase, using it more to identify an amusing or interesting … [Read more...]
Report: Domain Squatting, Brand Hijacking Presenting Increased Threat Across Internet
PALM BEACH, FL - “Domain squatting” – AKA cybersquatting – and “brand hijacking” are two internet-based threats that present unique dangers to both businesses and end users, opening up some to cybersecurity threats and brand/trademark damage including potential phishing and malware attacks. Domain squatting is registering or using a domain name to profit from a trademark belonging to a well-known brand, typically by registering a misspelled version of their URL to … [Read more...]
Google Ceases Selling New Domains as Transition to Squarespace Continues
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Back in July of this year, Google abruptly announced that it would be ending its Google Domains service after nearly 10 years and would be selling the business and all of its assets to Squarespace, a New York-based website building and hosting company. This month, as the transition from one company to another continues, the soon-to-be-shuttered Google Domains quietly revealed that it has ceased the sale of any new domains going … [Read more...]
Interest Continues In Alternative Domain Name, “.io” By Internet, Tech Firms
PALM BEACH, FL - When it comes to building a successful company, two of the most vital components to first establishing your digital presence – the main way that your customers are most likely to discover you – is to create a website and to choose an appropriate domain name. While the.com extension is by far the most commonly used by companies – and the one most consumers seek – there are a plethora of other extensions available out there to choose from. For the … [Read more...]
Website Company Squarespace Enters Agreement to Purchase Google Domains
NEW YORK, NY - New York City-based website building and hosting company Squarespace announced this week that they will be entering into an agreement to purchase Google Domains – a domain name registrar operated by Google that offers domain registration, DNS hosting, dynamic DNS, domain forwarding, and email forwarding – in a deal that includes all of the company's assets, which includes approximately 10 million domains that are owned by millions of … [Read more...]
Mega Domain “NewYork.com” Has New Property Manager After Reported Sale
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - In 2019, I put a spotlight on mega domain and website NewYork.com, virtually disappearing into thin air after its owners fell into a complex legal dispute which pushed the business to its breaking point after years of litigation. At that time, I remember being shocked that a dispute could not be resolved to the point where the entire business would collapse, and virtually vanish, but for whatever reason that’s what happened. Now, approximately … [Read more...]
Massive Data Breach of Neopets Website Affects 69 Million Users
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Neopets, a virtual pet and gaming community, has reported a data breach exposing personal information like usernames, passwords, IP addresses, and more of 69 million user accounts. By combining this information, cybercriminals could target users with spam or phishing attempts to access additional personal information which could lead to identity theft. Neopets representatives have published a statement on Twitter addressing the breach. If … [Read more...]
Hundreds of Domains Being Reported in Scam for Free Federal COVID-19 Test Kits
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The federal government launched a new website in January to help distribute free at-home COVID-19 test kits to U.S. citizens; no sooner did this website go live, so did numerous copycat websites, none of which were legitimate, but many sporting very similar URLs in an attempt to run a scam on unsuspecting visitors. In mid-January, the Biden Administration announced a free COVID-19 test kit program, with the kits being distributed via the U.S. Postal … [Read more...]
Lawyer Says, “Shadow Group” Setup Website Proposing Assassinations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A website that was online only a few days published the identities, including email and home addresses of various Republican and Democratic leaders as well as related employees of people the site claimed are responsible for “aiding and abetting the fraudulent election” against President Trump. The site, which has now disappeared, listed the personal details, including maps to the homes as well as headshots of the individuals inside crosshairs with an … [Read more...]
Are You Losing Backlink Credit or Traffic from Your Forwarded Domain Names?
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – There are many reasons why you might want to forward a domain name; you might have moved your website, you own multiple domain names, or you purchase domain names which have existing traffic or backlinks. If you do not forward your domain name correctly, you could be losing backlink credit and/or traffic. Here are some scenarios to forward your domain name properly. The Simple Easy Way (Free and Doesn't Require Hosting) If you have your domains … [Read more...]
Domainer? Here’s One “Hyphenated” Domain Success Story You Will Enjoy
PALM BEACH, FL – Way – way back in 2008, I suggested one of my clients purchase the domain name, NNN-Properties.com. I usually steer clear of hyphenated domain names because they clearly do not pass the radio test. Who wants to tell someone to visit their website address with a dash in it? Probably no one, and especially not me. But in this circumstance, I figured the domain name would likely rank well for the term “NNN Properties” which are commercial investment … [Read more...]
GEO Domain Name Vermont.com Seeks Exit with Sale of Website on Flippa Marketplace
PALM BEACH, FL – Those who know me know I keep a keen eye on the geographic name space and I noticed today that the exact match domain name for the U.S. State of Vermont is for sale on Flippa.com. The sale represents a great opportunity for a business in the State of Vermont to catapult themselves to a position of strength with relative ease by owning this exact match domain name, Vermont.com, but does the opportunity warrant its asking price with a reserve of: … [Read more...]
It’s Only A Matter of Time Until You Need to Be Licensed to Operate A Web Server
PALM BEACH, FL – I have been thinking about this off and on for a few years now, but I have never really posted or written about it. That is because it is an awful prediction that I hate the idea of, but I think it is going to eventually happen. Here it goes…. I predict that to operate a web server sometime in the near future, you will be required to have a license, or have passed a basic course in IT security or Cybersecurity intrusion mitigation. Not at the single site … [Read more...]
Feds Take Down First Coronavirus Scam Site
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The world’s first web site taken down of a fraudulent Coronavirus scam has taken place – and in record time. On Sunday, the US Department of Justice announced it had shut down a website in connection with COVID-19, the disease caused by 2019 Novel Coronavirus. The site, CoronavirusMedicalKit.com, promised visitors a free vaccine from the World Health Organization (WHO) and shoppers needed only to pay shipping costs of $4.95 to receive their cure, … [Read more...]
DOJ Seizes Domain Used to Sell Access to Hacked Personal Info and Account Logins
WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice announced that they have seized the internet domain name weleakinfo.com. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia and Special Agent in Charge Timothy M. Dunham of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The website claimed to provide its users a search engine to review and obtain the personal information illegally obtained in over 10,000 … [Read more...]