| Over the years I have come across a few people | | | | little harder to be able to detect. It is also much more |
| who believe that if they search for domain names | | | | rare. While it is possible for you to land on a domain |
| using any of the domain registrars on the internet | | | | registrars website that has been hacked, it is unlikely. |
| there are people ready to steal their domain name | | | | A close cousin to a hacked website is running into a |
| ideas. This thinking believes that if you are going to | | | | well designed phishing scam. I am not aware of any |
| search for a domain name for your new venture, | | | | phishing scam centered around the registration of |
| you better be ready to register that domain name | | | | domain names. This doesn't mean it can't happen, but |
| on the spot or risk having someone else see that | | | | I'm not aware of any such scams. |
| you looked up the domain name and register it ahead | | | | So how can you protect yourself for scam artists? |
| of you... | | | | Visit sites that you can trust. Look for websites that |
| So is this possible? | | | | don't look like they have been thrown together by a |
| The short answer is no. Unfortunately though, it isn't | | | | child. Make sure you are protecting your computer |
| necessarily so simple. There are ways that someone | | | | with a good anti-virus program. Don't click on links |
| could use to see what you are doing online and take | | | | found in emails to go to a website, instead, type in |
| action based on what you did. These methods would | | | | the web address directly to reduce the chance of |
| require at least one of three things. Either a | | | | being fooled. |
| keylogger that can track everything you type into | | | | I counsel you to do your domain name brainstorming |
| your computer (usually delivered via a virus or | | | | searches in peace. Know that stealing domain names |
| spyware), a page that has been hacked to capture | | | | is uncommon. If a domain you have identified as |
| your details or a phishing scam where someone | | | | available gets registered between the time you do an |
| creates a web page that looks like a legitimate | | | | availability search and the time you try to register it, |
| domain registrar but is in fact a cleverly devised page | | | | it very well may be chalked up to the fact that there |
| to capture your domain name ideas. | | | | are hundreds of thousands of people registering |
| How likely are any of these options? The best | | | | domains worldwide at any given time. If the domain |
| protection from a keylogger is to have a recently | | | | name you looked at was an especially good one, |
| updated anti-virus program. Hacked websites are a | | | | chances are someone else would think so too. |