Top Tips to Secure Your Domain From Hackers in India

Someone just stole a domain worth ₹50 lakhs.

It happened overnight. The owner woke up to find their website redirecting to a parking page. Their email stopped working. Years of brand building, gone.

Domain theft is real. And it’s happening in India more than you think.

Hackers target valuable domains. They exploit weak security. They use social engineering. They wait for you to slip up once.

And when they succeed, recovery is brutal. Legal battles drag on. Customers lose trust. Revenue disappears.

But here’s what most people miss.

Protecting your domain doesn’t require technical genius. It takes 10 simple steps that anyone can implement today.

Let’s unveil them one by one. 

Top Essential Tips to Protect Your Domain Name

Domain security isn’t complicated. It’s about layers.

Each tip adds another barrier between hackers and your domain. Combined, they make theft nearly impossible.

Let’s see them.

1) Enable Two-Factor Authentication on Your Registrar Account

This is your first line of defense.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) means hackers need more than just your password. They need a second code sent to your phone.

That means without 2FA, a leaked password gives them full access. With 2FA, they’re locked out.

But how do you set 2FA for your domain? It takes three minutes.

Log in to your registrar account. Find the security settings. Look for “Two-Factor Authentication” or “2FA.”

Enable it.

You’ll usually get options like SMS codes, authenticator apps (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator), or email codes.

I recommend authenticator apps. That is because SMS can be intercepted through SIM swapping attacks, but apps are more secure.

Either way, once enabled, you’ll enter a six-digit code every time you log in. Annoying? Maybe. But it stops unauthorized access completely.

2) Activate Domain Lock to Prevent Unauthorized Transfers

Here’s a common attack!

Hackers gain access to your account and immediately transfer your domain to another registrar.

Once transferred, getting it back becomes a nightmare.

But a domain lock prevents this.

When locked, your domain cannot be transferred. Period. Even if someone has your login credentials, they can’t move it.

Most registrars offer this feature for free, so you just need to turn it on.

Go to your domain management dashboard. Select your domain. Look for “Domain Lock,” “Transfer Lock,” or “Registrar Lock.”

Then, enable it.

That’s all. Now your domain stays put, and transfers require you to manually unlock it first.

3) Use Strong, Unique Passwords and Rotate Them Regularly

Weak passwords are hacker gold.

For instance, “password123” or “yourname@2024” won’t cut it. Hackers use automated tools that crack simple passwords in seconds.

So, your registrar password needs to be strong. At least 12 characters. Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.

Even better, use a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. These generate random, complex passwords and store them securely.

4) Turn On DNSSEC to Prevent DNS Spoofing and Hijacking

Hackers can hijack DNS settings. They redirect your visitors to fake sites. Phishing attacks. Malware downloads. Stolen customer data.

However, with DNSSEC, it adds a layer of verification. It ensures DNS responses are authentic and haven’t been tampered with.

Think of it as a digital signature that proves your DNS records are legitimate.

So, make sure you enable DNSSEC, but that varies by registrar. Some offer one-click activation. Others require you to add specific records.

But there’s a catch

Not all registrars support DNSSEC. If yours doesn’t, that’s a red flag. Consider switching to one that does, like Truehost.

5) Restrict Access to DNS and Nameserver Settings

Your developer needs temporary access. Your marketing team wants to add DNS records. Everyone gets login credentials.

Bad idea.

Each additional person with access is another potential security hole. Phishing attacks target employees. Credentials get shared. Passwords get leaked.

So, it’s good to limit access to one or two trusted people. Ideally, just you.

If others need to manage DNS, use role-based access. Many registrars let you create sub-accounts with limited permissions.

Give your developer DNS-only access. They can add records, but can’t transfer the domain or change security settings.

Also, never share your master registrar login. Ever.

Instead, use sub-accounts for delegation and keep the master credentials offline in a secure password manager.

6) Keep Your WHOIS Information Accurate but Protected with Privacy

WHOIS lists your domain registration details. Name, email, phone number, and address.

By default, this information is public. Anyone can look it up.

Spammers harvest it. Scammers use it for social engineering. Hackers gather information for targeted attacks.

But here’s what you need to do to prevent that. Enable WHOIS privacy protection.

Most registrars offer this service. Sometimes free, sometimes for a small fee of about ₹200-500 annually.

But either way, WHOIS privacy replaces your personal details with the registrar’s information. Thus, your identity stays hidden.

7) Monitor Your Domain for Suspicious Activity or DNS Changes

Regular monitoring catches attacks early, before damage happens.

So, check your domain status weekly. Look for:

• Unauthorized DNS changes
• New email forwarding rules
• Modified nameservers
• Unexpected SSL certificate requests
• Domain lock disabled without your action

Most registrars send email notifications for major changes, but you need to make sure these alerts are turned on.

Also, use external monitoring tools. Services like DNSstuff, WhoisXML API, or even simple WHOIS lookup sites can track changes.

You can also set up a monthly reminder to manually review your domain settings and look for anything unusual.

8) Renew Your Domain Early and Enable Auto-Renew

Expired domains are sitting ducks.

When your domain expires, it enters a grace period. Then redemption. Then deletion.

During this time, security features can weaken. Hackers monitor expiring domains. They wait for deletion, then register it themselves.

I’ve seen businesses lose domains simply because they forgot to renew. That’s not what you would want to happen for your site domain. 

So, enable auto-renew and let your registrar automatically charge your card before expiry.

Also, renew early if possible. Don’t wait until the last month.

Early renewal ensures your domain never enters a vulnerable state, and thus, security settings stay active. 

Nevertheless, for business-critical domains, consider multi-year renewals. For example, lock in your domain for five years.

9) Choose a Reputable Registrar With Strong Security Standards

Not all registrars are created equal. Some invest heavily in security. Others treat it as an afterthought.

Therefore, when choosing a registrar, look for:

• 2FA support
• Domain lock features
• DNSSEC support
• 24/7 customer support
• Clear security policies
• Good reputation in the industry

Also, check reviews and see how they handle security incidents from other past customers. If they struggled, most likely it will happen to you.

Thankfully, you don’t have to waste time looking for a secure domain and hosting provider in India.

A Truehost, we’ve built our infrastructure with security as the foundation. We offer all essential security features. Plus, our support team responds to security concerns immediately.

10) Protect Connected Email Accounts and Hosting Credentials

Your domain security is only as strong as its weakest link.

And that link is often your email.

Hackers target your registered email. They use it to reset your registrar password. They intercept verification codes.

That’s why it makes more sense to secure your email account with:

• Strong, unique password
• Two-factor authentication
• Recovery phone number
• Regular security checkups

Also, keep your hosting credentials separate and secure. If someone compromises your hosting, they might gain DNS access.

Use different passwords for, registrar account, email account, hosting control panel, and payment systems.

Plus, never store these credentials in plain text. Not in email. Not in Google Docs. Not in Slack messages.

Instead, use a password manager as it is the only secure way to manage multiple complex passwords.

How Truehost Secures Your Domain Name

We’ve made domain security simple for Indian businesses.

Every domain registered with Truehost comes with built-in protection. Domain lock is enabled by default, free WHOIS privacy, and 2FA support on all accounts.

Most importantly, our dashboard makes security settings accessible. No technical knowledge required. You can toggle protection features with one click.

We also monitor suspicious activity across our platform. Our systems flag unusual login attempts, unexpected DNS changes, and transfer requests.

And when something looks wrong, we notify you immediately via multiple channels, including email, SMS, and dashboard alerts.

Furthermore, our support team is available 24/7. If you suspect unauthorized access, we respond within minutes. We can freeze accounts, reverse changes, and secure your domain while investigating.

We also provide detailed security guides. Best practices. Set up tutorials. Everything you need to protect your digital assets.

In summary, at Truehost, your domain security is our priority. We’ve invested in infrastructure and processes that keep your domain safe.

Final Recommendations

Domain theft is preventable.

Every tip in this article takes minutes to implement. But the protection lasts for years.

Here’s what I want you to do right now:

• Enable 2FA. This is non-negotiable, so do it before you close this article.
• Activate the domain lock. One click protects against unauthorized transfers.
• Update your passwords. Strong, unique, stored in a password manager.
• Turn on WHOIS privacy. Protect your personal information from public view.
• Enable auto-renew. Never let your domain enter a vulnerable expired state.

These five actions take 20 minutes total, but they stop 99% of domain theft attempts.

Then, schedule quarterly security reviews. Check your settings. Update passwords. Verify access permissions. Monitor for suspicious activity.

But, in case you stack, consider a reliable hosting provider in India that can help, and that’s Truehost.

We have 24/7 customer support to support you and help monitor your domain to ensure it’s forever safe. 

Get these deals to transfer your domain to us now!