ICANN policy change allows domains to be transferred without owners' consent
On November 12, 2004, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) put in place its new Policy on Transfer of Registrations between Registrars for all accredited domain name service providers.
The previous ICANN policy allowed domain registrars to deny requests to transfer a domain name to another registrar unless you, the domain owner, explicitly confirmed to the domain registrar your intent to transfer.
The new ICANN policy removes that protection. When a domain registrar receives a request to transfer a domain name to a new registrar, domain registrars should still attempt to contact the domain owner to confirm that the request was authorized. However, if the domain owner does not respond within 5 days, your domain name WILL be transferred.
Here's the quote from the ICANN website, "Failure by the Registrar of Record to respond within five (5) calendar days to a notification from the Registry regarding a transfer request will result in a default 'approval' of the transfer."
The best way to stop your domain being transferred without your knowledge is to use a domain registrar to "lock" your domain names. Locking your domains is a free service provided by most reputable domain registrars. It prevents unauthorized changes to contacts and name servers, and prevents the domain name from being transferred to another registrar without your knowledge. You may lock or unlock your domain at any time.
If your domain registrar doesn't provide a domain locking service, then maybe it's time you considered switching to one that does, such as Domain Registration Bank.
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