All Posts Tagged With: "Domain Searches"

Have you ever went looking for a domain you really wanted, only to be disappointed that it was already taken? That happens to me 100’s of times a month, so I’m very familiar with the feeling. Now, imagine the feeling you would have if you went and searched for a domain, found it was available, then discovered that the company you used to search for the domain just registered it based off your search?

This is something that was happening a lot to the people that used Network Solutions to do their domain searches. At first, someone might think that it is coincidence. Maybe someone just registered it and the search you are using hadn’t updated yet. Apparently it happened enough that people started talking, and an experiment was eventually conducted.

Here is the domain that was searched for:

http://www.youguysseriouslyregistereverythingisearch.com/

You can check out the WhoIs here. If this doesn’t prove that Network Solutions is using front running (sniffing searches) techniques, I’m not sure what does. It looks like the overwhelming evidence caused Network Solutions to respond:

I’d like to clarify what we are doing. In response to customer concerns about Domain Name Front Running (domains being registered by someone else just after they have conducted a domain name search), we have implemented a security measure to protect our customers. The measure will kick in when a customer searches for an available domain name at our website, but decides not to purchase the name immediately after conducting the search.

After the search ends, we will put the domain name on reserve. During this reservation period, the name is not active and we do not monetize the traffic on these domains. If a customer searches for the domain again during the next 4 days at networksolutions.com, the domain will be available to register. If the domain name is not purchased within 4 days, it will be released back to the registry and will be generally available for registration.

This protection measure provides our customers the opportunity to register domains they have previously searched without the fear that the name will be already taken through Front Running.

You are correct that we are trying to take an arrow out of the quiver of the tasters. As you know, domain tasters are the largest Front Runners. Due to no fault of registrars, Front Runners purchase search data from Internet Service Providers and/or registries and then taste those names. Some folks may not agree with our approach, but we are trying to prevent this malicious activity from impacting our customers.

The problem with this is that by purchasing it and holding it for 4 days, this requires you to then register the domain through Network Solutions, instead of getting to choose where you go.

Moral of the story? Don’t use Network Solutions to do your searches.