Tech: how safe is your brand?
It's quite a surprise when visiting the website that should be the British Embassy in Dubai to find that now it's being faked - with all the right terms to maximise search engines looking for the official site previously present there - by someone who is simply using it to draw visitors to advertisements.
The domain name concerned is BRITAIN-UAE.ORG and below the full record from AllWhoIs which shows that the domain is registered by a client of Network Solutions, who were the original domain issuer for all .com addresses before the market was opened up.
The site was launched in 1999 and the domain expired on 29 March 2007. But by then it was not being updated regularly anyway.
The person who now holds the domain has - arguably - done nothing wrong in registering it. However, several years ago, it was announced that the .org domains would be available for registration only for organisations such as associations, charities, etc., and not for commercial purposes. Thus, by the supposed rules of registration, the site should not be available for its current status as an advertising revenue generator. However, in 2007, after expiry, the domain was in fact listed by Network Solutions under its expired domain policy and Network Solutions itself served adverts, despite the .org status.
Thanks to archive.org, we can trace the history of the site until it expired.
NOTICE: Access to .ORG WHOIS information is provided to assist persons in determining the contents of a domain name registration record in the Public Interest Registryregistry database. The data in this record is provided by Public Interest Registryfor informational purposes only, and Public Interest Registry does not guarantee its accuracy. This service is intended only for query-based access. You agree that you will use this data only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this data to: (a) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations to entities other than the data recipient's own existing customers; or (b) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of Registry Operator or any ICANN-Accredited Registrar, except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. All rights reserved. Public Interest Registry reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this policy. Domain ID:D4801697-LRORDomain Name:BRITAIN-UAE.ORGCreated On:29-Mar-1999 05:00:00 UTCLast Updated On:03-Jul-2007 04:46:51 UTCExpiration Date:29-Mar-2008 05:00:00 UTCSponsoring Registrar:Network Solutions LLC (R63-LROR)Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITEDRegistrant ID:41400637-NSIVRegistrant Name:VDomainsRegistrant Organization:VDomainsRegistrant Street1:ATTN insert domain name hereRegistrant Street2:care of Network SolutionsRegistrant Street3:Registrant City:HerndonRegistrant State/Province:VARegistrant Postal Code:20172Registrant Country:USRegistrant Phone:+1.570708878Registrant Phone Ext.:Registrant FAX:Registrant FAX Ext.:Registrant Email:uf5fw2mv9ya@networksolutionsprivateregistration.comAdmin ID:41400637-NSIVAdmin Name:VDomainsAdmin Organization:VDomainsAdmin Street1:ATTN insert domain name hereAdmin Street2:care of Network SolutionsAdmin Street3:Admin City:HerndonAdmin State/Province:VAAdmin Postal Code:20172Admin Country:USAdmin Phone:+1.570708878Admin Phone Ext.:Admin FAX:Admin FAX Ext.:Admin Email:uf5fw2mv9ya@networksolutionsprivateregistration.comTech ID:41400637-NSIVTech Name:VDomainsTech Organization:VDomainsTech Street1:ATTN insert domain name hereTech Street2:care of Network SolutionsTech Street3:Tech City:HerndonTech State/Province:VATech Postal Code:20172Tech Country:USTech Phone:+1.570708878Tech Phone Ext.:Tech FAX:Tech FAX Ext.:Tech Email:uf5fw2mv9ya@networksolutionsprivateregistration.comName Server:SK.S1.NS104.CNOMY.COMName Server:SK.S2.NS104.CNOMY.COM
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