Domain names are one of the Internet’s underpinnings and not much would happen without them unless you had a thing about numbers. As you’re reading my blog, you’re probably the type of person who has a domain or two registered and has probably carried out a number of domain name searches in your time.
Imagine if every domain name you searched for was intercepted and then registered by someone else. You probably wouldn’t be too pleased would you. What if the people intercepting your domain name searches then offered you the opportunity to take over the domain for a fee? It’s all starting to sound a bit seedy isn’t it?
This is exactly what Network Solutions will do when you use their domain search service. They claim it’s to protect their customers from other people front running, but in fact the domains they secure are available for anyone to register as long as it’s through them.
Here’s one I cooked up earlier:
1) Check if some random domain name is available using Domain Name Pro – it is.
2) Check the domain name is available at Namecheap – it is.
3) Check if the domain name is available at Network Solutions – it is.
4) Then go back to Domain Name Pro and check again – whoops, someone’s registered it.
5) Go back to Namecheap and check again – yep, it’s totally gone.
If you’re looking for a new domain name, steer clear of Network Solutions!
You know how people are constantly getting sued over domain names that breach trademarks… I wonder if Network Solutions could land in hot water for ‘protecting’ a domain name containing the trademark of some huge corporation?
That would be such a shame to see.
It really would.
