Domain name monitoring (“SecURL”)

Domain name monitoring (“SecURL”) monitors all changes related to a registered domain name. Web site activation, e-mails sent, whois changes… You’ll be aware of all changes corresponding to the domain via Solidnames “SecURL” monitoring.

Are you particularly interested in a domain name managed by a registrar? Keep an eye on it via “SecURL”, our daily email, web and whois usage watch for a specific domain name.

Daily monitoring of a domain name

We can often find a domain name to keep an eye on. A new domain name found to contain yourINPI-registered trademark is a nuisance.
Registering a trademark does not technically prevent a third party from reserving a domain name with hyphens, for example, using your own name.

This potential case of cybersquatting can be detected during a brandaudit or surveillance of new domain name registrations. For example, the domain name holder acquires an available domain name to create a counterfeit website. If this is the case, SecURL alerts you immediately.

Creating a domain name doesn’t necessarily mean creating a site. An Internet address also has an e-mail address attached to it, without the URL being active.

If your company name is used in fraudulent e-mail addresses, domain name monitoring will warn you.

Another example of the benefits of domain name monitoring: your ideal domain is already taken. Your domain name search has concluded that registration is not possible because your name has already been registered.

If you don’t have the budget to buy the domain name, keep an eye on it!

Web page content monitoring

SecURL monitors the content of a website. You control the use of a domain name and its various sub-domains, including the most common www (e.g. www.solidnames.fr).

Depending on the technical configuration used, a domain name may be used differently in its “apex” form without the www (e.g. solidnames.fr) and with the www sub-domain. Solidnames therefore enables sub-domain monitoring via SecURL monitoring.

For example, the web address http://dns-news.fr/ offers different content from http://www.dns-news.fr/.

You can also monitor the domain name of a web page in https mode, to check whether an SSL certificate is being used.

Solidnames also offers sub-domain detection via its “Sub-domains Alert”.

Web page domain name monitoring

“SecURL monitors and alerts you to changes in the activity of the monitored address, such as website creation.

Detecting abuse of a sensitive domain name

A domain name on a registrar’s waiting page becomes a website criticizing your trademark? You’ll be notified immediately.

Has an inactive domain finally been used to create a counterfeit e-commerce website? You’ll be instantly notified too.

Domain name monitoring follows a sensitive domain. For example, a WordPress holding page hosts several web pages a few days later.

“SecURL also analyzes the “title tag” of the web page being monitored. The title tag is the name of an html document at the top of your web browser. It presents the content of a document that is taken into account by search engines. They include it in their results pages (SERPs). If the change detected seems suspicious (e.g. appearance of new keywords), you can react quickly.

Domain name monitoring also detects redirections. The owner of a domain name points to another web address from his or her customer space. This is known as redirection.

As you can see, “SecURL” detects all modifications made to the monitored website.

Domain name whois monitoring

The “whois” of a domain name contains a wealth of information. It contains your address, the date of registration or expiry of the domain name, and the names of your service providers (e.g. Gandi).

Domain name monitoring monitors the various “whois” entries and alerts you to any changes.

For example, a domain name monitored by “SecURL” will have a “Redemption Period” status. This implies that the domain name will not be renewed by its holder. This is the ideal time to set up a backorder to automatically recover it.

In the absence of automatic renewal, “SecURL” identifies an expired domain name.

Domain name whois monitoring

“SecURL monitors and alerts you to changes in the whois status of the monitored domain name.

An “OK” status usually indicates that the registrant is transferring the domain name via an authorization code to another registrar. There are thousands of registrars accredited by registries such as LWS or Viaduc.

Domain name whois monitoring also scans DNS records. A change in DNS zones, for example, signals a new host like Switch, if its IP addresses are indicated.

A change of owner, registrar, DNS servers or expiry date is recorded daily by “SecURL”.

Monitoring mail servers

“SecURL” daily checks the configuration of an e-mail server associated with the domain name under surveillance.

The presence of Mail Exchanger MX records shows that the monitored domain name is set up and ready to be used to send emails.

This configuration is recognized as bad faith use in UDRP extrajudicial proceedings.

TheWIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) has issued a “UDRP” decision in favor of Robertet, represented by the law firm Novagraaf France.
The expert considers that the cybersquatter can use any e-mail address with the suffix “@ fr-robertet.com” for commercial, spam or phishing purposes.

According to WIPO, the mere activation of e-mail servers under the domain name cl-creditmutuel.com makes it likely that fraudulent e-mails of the type “[…]@cl-creditmutuel.com” will be sent and received.

“SecURL” checks whether e-mail addresses are associated with the domain names being monitored and used. This daily monitoring immediately alerts you to email identity theft for financial scams, spreading false information…

Other criteria must be met to win a “UDRP” in domain name disputes such as unfair competition. These include having a registered trademark and proving the absence of a legitimate interest on the part of the defendant.

How much does it cost to monitor a domain name?

SecURL” domain name monitoring alerts you by e-mail to any changes detected. The deliverable provides a link to the printout of the previous situation.

SecURL” alerts are issued in English or French.

“SecURL” is available at €0.10 (excl. VAT) per day per monitored domain name.

Domain name monitoring can be ordered on a “prorata temporis” basis, according to the subscription duration chosen by the customer. Law firms specializing in industrial property appreciate this flexibility. It enables them to adjust the contract to the calendar year, for example.

SecURL” domain name monitoring works for all Internet extensions recognized by Icann. The “TLDs” (“Top Level Domains”) monitored include country-code extensions such as the French .FR managed byAfnic, generic extensions and new extensions.

“SecURL” cannot be used to monitor NFT domain names registered in extensions such as .ETH, .BITCOIN or .CRYPTO.

These blockchain domains can be monitored by SOLIDNAMES’ NFT Monitoring service. The “NFT Monitoring” service is also available at €0.10 per day per NFT domain name.

The information provided in NFT Monitoring alerts is adapted to the information available for NFT domain names.