You may have noticed a new requirement for domain registrations and updates that was pushed by ICANN beginning 1 Jan 2014. Below is a quick summary of what it is and how it impacts you.
What changed?
When a you register a new domain name, update your WHOIS information or transfer your domain between registrars, you will receive a confirmation email with subject "RAA Verification Email" to the administrative email address associated with the domain. From that date, you have 15 days to click the validation link. Without this step being completed, the domain is suspended, and after the 15 day window it will be placed in a "ClientHold" status for 72 hours. After that period the registration will be cancelled (for new registrations), changes to your WHOIS contact will be reverted (for WHOIS modifications), or the DNS for your site will be suspended resuting in the domain and all associated services going offline (for domain transfers).
It is important to note that you will never be asked to log in or enter any passwords or credentials - only to click on a verify link. If you are asked to enter any login details, stop and consult with our support first - this would most likely be a phishing attempt to gain access to your account and could be a possible avenue of abuse in the near future.
What happens if the you don't receive the email?
Please check your spam folders, etc to be certain it has not arrived. If you are certain you didn't receive one to the address used to register the domain, please open a support ticket and our technicians can have the email resent. This can take up to 72 hours depending on the domain registration status at that point. This same process can happen if your current domains have incorrect email addresses registered with them. Therefore it is imperative that the email address on file for all of your domains, both new and old, must be kept up to date and working as a functional address. Otherwise you may miss crtical notices, including expiry or renewal notifications. If you do not receive any notices regarding your annual verification or registration of a new domain, please log in to your my.kualo.com and ensure the email address on file is correct, or subsequent resends will also bounce and force the domain into the "ClientHold" status"
Why this change?
The existing annual verification process is also still required. ICANN believes this extra step will help prevent fraud on existing domain extensions and the slew of upcoming ones.
If you run into any situation you are unable to sort out or unsure of what steps to follow, please feel free to open a support ticket via my.kualo.com for help or to answer any questions you might have.
How does the Contact Verification process work?
A change to the Registered Name Holder of a domain name is defined as any change to the first name, last name, or email address of the registrant contact. A change to the Registered Name Holder of a domain name will trigger the contact verification process whereby an email containing a verification link will be sent to the registrant email address. The link in the email must be clicked by the recipient of the email in order to complete the verification process. New domain registrations will also trigger the verification process.
What if the Contact Verification process is not successfully completed?
Failure to complete the verification process within 15 days will result in the domain being suspended by the registrar.
What is domain suspension?
If contact verification is required and not successfully completed, then the domain(s) that were registered or associated with the contact change will require suspension. Domain suspension involves setting the domain's nameservers to ns1/ns2.verification-hold.suspended-domain.com. Once the verification is performed the domain DNS will return to what it was prior to the suspension but, as with any DNS change, this process can take up to 72 hours to fully propagate world-wide.
How can I get my domain unsuspended?
The suspension of the domain will be removed after the WHOIS information is successfully verified. Suspensions of domains will happen only after a verification email has been sent and the link within the verification email has not been clicked. You will want to check your spam/junk box to make sure it was not missed and, if you do not see it, contact us so that we can re-send the verification email. The email will go to the current Registrant email address on the WHOIS and not the primary support email account on file.
Who is ICANN?
ICANN is responsible for the coordination of the global Internet's systems of unique identifiers and, in particular, ensuring its stable and secure operation. ICANN maintains policies and specifications for registrars and registrants to abide by.
What is WHOIS?
WHOIS services provide public access to data on registered domain names, which currently includes contact information for Registered Name Holders. Registered Name Holders are required to provide accurate and reliable contact details to their Registrar to update WHOIS data for a Registered Name.