Fresh perspectives and practical advice, all in one place.
Businesses can use WHOIS privacy. Freelancers and home-based businesses should always enable it. Corporations with offices may go public for B2B trust. Never expose home addresses or personal phones, use PO Box, virtual office, or registered agent. NameSilo includes free privacy.
Yes, you can trademark a domain name if it's distinctive and used in commerce. Domain registration doesn't grant trademark rights, file with USPTO or equivalent. Search existing trademarks before registering domains. Defensively register your trademarked name across multiple TLDs.
Yes, SSL is mandatory for credit card processing. PCI DSS requires HTTPS encryption. Payment gateways like Stripe block HTTP sites. Install SSL, force HTTPS site-wide, and fix mixed content. For e-commerce, paid SSL with warranty coverage provides additional transaction protection.
Connect your domain to Cloudflare by replacing registrar nameservers with Cloudflare's assigned nameservers. Verify MX records imported correctly before switching to avoid email outages. Cloudflare then manages DNS, provides free SSL, DDoS protection, and global CDN caching.
NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID means your SSL certificate expired or the visitor's clock is wrong. Check certificate validity via browser padlock, renew through hosting dashboard if expired. For visitors, sync computer clock to automatic time. NameSilo Turbo Hosting includes free auto-renewing SSL.
Stop domain spoofing by implementing DMARC with p=reject policy. Add a DMARC TXT record to your DNS instructing email providers to block unauthenticated messages. Start with p=none for monitoring, then escalate after verifying legitimate senders pass SPF and DKIM.
WHOIS updates instantly at your registrar but takes 24-48 hours to appear on third-party lookup tools due to caching. Enable WHOIS privacy for instant masking. Complete ICANN verification within 15 days after changing registrant email to avoid domain suspension.
Force HTTPS redirection after installing SSL to stop "Not Secure" warnings. Use cPanel's Force HTTPS toggle, add .htaccess redirect rules, or install a WordPress plugin. SSL enables encryption; redirection enforces it. Both are required for full security.
Recover a stolen domain by contacting your registrar's abuse department immediately for an emergency freeze. File TDRP for unauthorized transfers or UDRP for trademark disputes. Most hijacking occurs through compromised email, not registrar breaches. Enable 2FA and Domain Defender to prevent theft.
GDPR redacts personal WHOIS data but doesn't replace it. True WHOIS privacy uses proxy information to block spam and protect your email. NameSilo includes full proxy privacy free with every domain, no extra charge regardless of GDPR coverage.
Check if your domain is blacklisted and learn how to fix it fast with this step-by-step guide.
ICANN requires registrant email verification within 15 days. Failure suspends domains with clientHold status, taking sites offline. Fix by resending verification from Contact Manager and clicking the link. DNS restores within 1-24 hours after verification.
