Web Jacking and Domain Hijacking
Web Jacking is when an attacker forcefully takes control of a website through a password attack and later changes the password after the hosting account password is successfully cracked and the original owner of the website will have no control of his/her website anymore. The attacker’s reason for this illegal action may be for political fulfillment or for financial gain. The attacker’s aim may also include changing information available on this website to his desired information or deleting entire files available on the website and place: ‘The Web site has been hacked by i.e. Disclosed or undisclosed Hacker’s group. Every website owner who hosts a website must have a username and password used for accessing their web-hosted server, if anyone can know the username and guess the password, this intruder can take complete control of the website if changes the password.
To be security conscious about this situation, there are many ways hackers may hack a password, so it is advisable that every website owner must know how websites get hacked through Password Attacks.
Domain Hijacking – Unlike Web Jacking, a Domain Name is only an identity for a website, a domain name is registered by the domain provider (registrar), and during registration of the domain name with the provider, the register’s personal information with an email address is required to complete this registration. After completion and approval of registration, the provider gives a domain control panel where the register can configure settings by pointing the domain name to the web host server using DNS from the web host. Domain Name hacks mostly happen through accessing the administrative email account (registered email with the provider), if a hacker can hack into this email then the hacker can easily request for change of password on the provider’s website. A domain owner must know how to protect the domain from hijacking and knowing how Email Hacking occurs through a Password Attack using the Phishing Method or Brute-force technique is very important for a domain name owner.
It is recommended that a website is hosted with a reputed and trusted web host service provider because hackers could also attack a web server which may result in damage to many websites hosted on the server. It is also advisable to keep login credentials safe and secure from a third party and the use strong password while creating a web hosting account is also recommended.
Protecting against Web Jacking and Domain Name Hijacking involves implementing various security measures to safeguard your website and domain from unauthorized access and control.
Here are key strategies to enhance protection:
Protection Against Web Jacking:
- Secure Website Authentication:
- Implement strong authentication mechanisms for accessing your website’s administrative controls. Use secure login credentials and consider multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- HTTPS Usage:
- Enforce HTTPS on your website to encrypt communication between users and your web server. This helps prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
- Secure Password Practices:
- Encourage the use of strong, unique passwords for website accounts. Regularly update and change passwords, especially for administrative accounts.
- User Account Management:
- Regularly review and manage user accounts with access to your website. Remove accounts that are no longer necessary, and ensure that each user has the appropriate level of access.
- Security Headers:
- Utilize security headers, such as Content Security Policy (CSP), HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS), and X-Frame-Options, to mitigate the risk of common web-based attacks.
Protection Against Domain Name Hijacking:
- Registrar Security:
- Choose a reputable domain registrar that implements robust security measures. Enable additional security features provided by the registrar, such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and domain locking.
- Use Strong Registrar Credentials:
- Use strong and unique credentials for accessing your domain registrar account. Regularly update passwords and enable any available security features.
- Domain Locking:
- Enable domain locking through your registrar. This prevents unauthorized domain transfers or changes to your domain settings.
- Registrar Account Monitoring:
- Regularly monitor your registrar account for any suspicious activities or unauthorized changes. Set up notifications for account activities.
- DNS Security:
- Implement Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) to add an extra layer of security to your domain’s DNS infrastructure.
- WHOIS Privacy:
- Consider using WHOIS privacy protection services to conceal personal information associated with your domain registration, making it more challenging for attackers to gather details.
- Regular Audits:
- Periodically review your domain registration details, including WHOIS information and DNS settings, to ensure they are accurate and have not been tampered with.
- Domain Renewal Alerts:
- Set up renewal alerts with your domain registrar to avoid unintentional expiration, which could be exploited by attackers.
- Legal Protections:
- Consider registering trademarks for your domain names and explore legal options to protect against domain hijacking.
- Employee Education:
- Educate employees about social engineering tactics and phishing attempts that could be used to gain access to domain registrar accounts.
By implementing these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of both Web Jacking and Domain Name Hijacking. Regular monitoring, strong authentication practices, and staying informed about the latest security threats are crucial components of a robust defense strategy.