DomainGuard FAQs

What is DomainGuard?

DomainGuard is a service that protects your domain name against malicious or unintentional tampering. When this feature is activated for your domain name, any attempts to make changes to important domain name settings will require a special DomainGuard password. This is an added layer of protection in addition to your regular DomainPeople Customer Account login and password.

This service is particularly useful if you have an account with multiple domain names and you want to provide certain individuals with free access to some domains while restricting access to other, more important, domain names. A person who has access to your DomainPeople Customer Account login ID and password, will still require the DomainGuard password to access a protected domain name.

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What settings does DomainGuard protect?

DomainGuard protects against changes to important domain name settings in the Domain Name section of your DomainPeople Customer Account. This includes the following settings:

  • DNS settings
  • Domain name aliases
  • Nameserver changes
  • URL forwarding settings
  • WhoisProtector settings
  • InstantSite
  • Domain name feature activations
  • Whois contact information

Please note that the use of other services associated with your account, such as Web hosting, email and other non-domain name services provided to you by DomainPeople may result in minor changes to your domain name settings even with DomainGuard activated. If you are unsure about what affect these services may have on your domain name settings, please contact customer support at support@domainpeople.com.

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Why is it important to protect my domain name?

Your domain name is an important and valuable part of your online identity. It is what people use to locate your Web site on the Internet. Just like most valuable items, your domain name is susceptible to theft or malicious tampering.

If a hacker gains access to your account they can modify critical domain name settings, such as your nameservers, that may result in your Web site being down or in the loss of your domain name altogether. Even unintentional changes to your domain name settings by users with access to your DomainPeople Customer Account can result in your Web site experiencing downtime.

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How do I protect my domain name with DomainGuard?

You can order DomainGuard for your domain name through the order form when you register your domain name. If you have already registered your domain name with us and would like to add DomainGuard to it, you can do so through your DomainPeople Customer Account by going to the Domain Name section and then clicking on the "Setup DomainGuard" link under "Domain Name Features Management."

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If I order DomainGuard, how long will my domain name be protected?

Upon activation, your DomainGuard service will continue for one year. For your convenience, at the end of one year, we will automatically renew DomainGuard on your behalf. If you would not like to renew your DomainGuard service, you must delete it from within your DomainPeople Customer Account login.

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Can I protect more than one domain name with DomainGuard?

Yes. You can add DomainGuard for multiple domain names within your account. You will receive a different password for each domain name protected with DomainGuard which you can later change by logging into your DomainPeople Customer Account. The price for DomainGuard is per domain name.

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Can I temporarily disable DomainGuard?

Yes. You can temporarily disable your DomainGuard service by logging into your DomainPeople Customer Account and going to the Manage DomainGuard page in the Domain Name section. There, you can select to disable your service by clicking the "Disable" button located at the top of the page. You can re-enable it by returning to this page. You will be prompted for your existing DomainGuard password.

We highly recommend that you leave your DomainGuard service enabled. While disabled, your domain name will be vulnerable to malicious or accidental tampering. You will continue to be charged for your DomainGuard service while it is disabled. If you wish to discontinue the service, you must delete it from your account.

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Must I enter my DomainGuard password each time I attempt to change my domain name settings?

No. You only need to authenticate yourself once with the DomainGuard password while you are logged into your account. This is to save you the trouble of having to re-enter your DomainGuard password if you have multiple changes to make. However, you will be required to enter your DomainGuard password each time that you attempt to modify your DomainGuard settings.

The moment that you logout, DomainGuard will re-lock to ensure your selected settings are protected.

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Can I change my DomainGuard password?

Yes. You can change your DomainGuard password immediately after you have ordered the service by logging into your DomainPeople Customer Account and going to the "Manage DomainGuard' page in the Domain Name section. You will be prompted for your existing DomainGuard password before being allowed to make any modifications to your DomainGuard service.

We recommend that you use a password that is different than your DomainPeople Customer Account login password.

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Who is the Domain Guardian and what is the Domain Guardian email address?

The Domain Guardian is the person who has activated the DomainGuard service for a domain. We send the special DomainGuard password and any requests for a password reminder to this individual's email address. Please ensure that you keep your Domain Guardian email address up to date.

For your security, we restrict the use of an email address that is associated with your DomainPeople Customer Account for your Domain Guardian email address. This is to ensure that a person with access to your DomainPeople Customer Account is not able to gain access to your email to recover the DomainGuard password.

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Can I change the Domain Guardian email address?

Yes. You can change the Domain Guardian email address immediately after you have ordered the service by logging into your DomainPeople Customer Account and going to the Manage DomainGuard page in the Domain Name section. You will be prompted for your existing DomainGuard password before being allowed to make any modifications to your DomainGuard service.

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Can I select which settings are protected with DomainGuard?

Yes. Upon activation of the DomainGuard service, we will automatically protect all critical domain name settings. After activation, you can specify which settings you would like protected by logging into your DomainPeople Customer Account and going to the Manage DomainGuard page in the Domain Name section. There, you can check or uncheck which settings you would like protected. You will be prompted for your existing DomainGuard password before allowed to make any modifications to your DomainGuard service.

This feature is particularly useful if you would like to grant access to certain areas of your domain name while restricting access to critical settings. For instance, you can allow your Web designer to freely use our Mobile Business SiteBuilder to design your mobile site, while restricting his/her ability to modify your DNS or nameserver settings.

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I have protected my nameservers with DomainGuard but just noticed that they have changed. What is wrong?

The use of other non-domain name services associated with your account such as hosting or email services provided by DomainPeople can result in minor changes to your nameservers or DNS settings. These minor changes are necessary to ensure that your hosting and email services function properly.

If you have not used any non-domain name services and notice continued changes to your protected settings, we recommend that you login to your DomainPeople Customer Account and change your DomainGuard password. If these changes continue, please contact customer support at support@domainpeople.com .

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What does it mean when it says "DomainGuard is unlocked for this session?"

Once you have correctly entered your DomainGuard password, this password will remain valid until you logout. This will save you the trouble of having to re-enter your password if you have multiple changes that you need to make. The moment you logout, DomainGuard will re-lock to ensure your selected settings are protected.

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What happens if I forget my DomainGuard password?

You can request to have a password reminder sent to the Domain Guardian's email address. You can do this using the send password reminder link located on the DomainGuard page where you are asked for this password.

We highly recommend that you keep your password in a safe place and that you remember, and have access to, the email account of the Domain Guardian. For your protection, we require that you complete and send in a fax, signed form that verifies your identity in the event that you require a password reset. The charge for this identity authentication service is $10 USD.

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How do I cancel my DomainGuard service?

You can cancel your DomainGuard service by logging into your DomainPeople Customer Account and going to the Manage DomainGuard page in the Domain Name section. There, you can discontinue your DomainGuard protection by clicking the Delete button. Once deleted, your domain name settings will no longer be protected and your domain will be vulnerable to malicious or accidental tampering.

To ensure that your Guarded domain name does not become vulnerable, we will automatically renew the service upon the renewal date that is stated at the top of the 'Manage DomainGuard' page. If you do not with to continue with the service, you must delete it prior to this renewal date.

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What is the DomainGuard Password Recovery (DPR) form?

In the event that you have forgotten your DomainGuard password and your Domain Guardian email address, you will be required to complete, sign, and return a fax form to verify your identity. This security measure is to ensure your DomainGuard password does not fall into the wrong hands. The charge for this identity verification service is $10 USD.

We highly recommend that you keep your DomainGuard password in a safe place and that you keep it confidential.

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General

Domain Names