Is someone using automatic script to record other people's searches?

ryukenden

Nov 9th 2007, 2:13 am

Today, when I was looking at lastmoment domains, I found out that "lastmomentcoupon.com and lastmomentcoupons.com " not registered yet. Somehow when I check it again after 5 - 10 minutes, they were gone.

I have checked the whois and they were registered with today date. It happens to me twice and now I have to register the domains straightaway if I find any domains interesting.

I have registered

last moment bid.com last moment bids.com , last momentauction.com , last moment auctions.com etc.. (I did not leave them for 5-10 minutes)
What do you think?

Is someone or group of people using automatic script to record other people's searches and register interesting domains themselves?

htmlindex

Nov 9th 2007, 3:04 am

Where did you do the whois search? If it's Godaddy, they're well known for selling their whois queries

Nosfer

Nov 9th 2007, 4:01 am

it happened to me 2... with whois :) i found a pretty nice domain name, then chat a bit with some of my friends to see if my idea was good, and when i was going to register it... it was gone. registered same day ;)

ryukenden

Nov 9th 2007, 4:16 am

Where did you do the whois search? If it's Godaddy, they're well known for selling their whois queries

Yes with godaddy. Because I usually register with them. I search the domains with other tools but to confirm availablity, I check with godaddy. So as you say, they steal other peoples' queries to sell?

pipes

Nov 9th 2007, 4:59 am

Ive heard that various places do it, i used to search at godaddy then stopped, i search at namecheap now but ive heard they do it too, then there has been suggestions of other places doing this also.

If anyone can recommend a geniune place that they feel safer doing their research id be happy to hear of.

ryukenden

Nov 9th 2007, 5:17 am

clasione

Nov 9th 2007, 5:23 am

There has been a lot of talk about this lately.... I guess it is really a growing problem...

pipes

Nov 9th 2007, 5:35 am

You may use.

www.learnwhois.com

Hi ryukenden, thanks for the link, bookmarked it.:)

Hope i dont sound too paranoid, would you and do you use it yourself? im sure you understand my caution.

Stanley.Lyndon

Nov 9th 2007, 5:42 am

Happens more often than you think. i use register.com or checkdomain.com to check availability and register with godaddy.

ryukenden

Nov 9th 2007, 5:07 pm

Happens more often than you think. i use register.com or checkdomain.com to check availability and register with godaddy.

It is good to use other than godaddy to look for domains.

Peter Brown

Nov 9th 2007, 5:53 pm

It was most probably taken by a taster, make sure you do not visit the domains.

To check domains, I recommend PCnames.com

swoop

Nov 9th 2007, 5:57 pm

Everyone believes that various companies sell their queries...but where? I've never seen an advertisement for them.

Peter Brown

Nov 9th 2007, 6:12 pm

Everyone believes that various companies sell their queries...but where? I've never seen an advertisement for them.

I heard that most sell to workers inside the company and the registrars biggest customers.

tobycoke

Nov 9th 2007, 7:08 pm

Yes with godaddy. Because I usually register with them. I search the domains with other tools but to confirm availablity, I check with godaddy. So as you say, they steal other peoples' queries to sell?

Google is not well known for selling their searches. Bob Parsons is against such activity. If anything is happening it appears to be persons intercepting GoDaddy WHOIS requests to the registry.

htmlindex

Nov 9th 2007, 11:50 pm

Yes with godaddy. Because I usually register with them. I search the domains with other tools but to confirm availablity, I check with godaddy. So as you say, they steal other peoples' queries to sell?

From what I've read @ Namepros, yes.

They don't really steal it, they save it & sell it afterwards. That's why it's not a good idea to do a Whois search on Godaddy, wait a few days then register the domain

ruffnat

Nov 10th 2007, 1:53 am

best way to search is just try the domain in your address bar to see if there is a site on it

if not, then wait until you are ready to register it before ever typing it in to a domain search

ryukenden

Nov 10th 2007, 3:12 am

best way to search is just try the domain in your address bar to see if there is a site on it

if not, then wait until you are ready to register it before ever typing it in to a domain search

It is a good idea but it will be tiring to type all domains. I sometimes come across with hundred of domains per day.

Peter Brown

Nov 10th 2007, 3:18 am

best way to search is just try the domain in your address bar to see if there is a site on it

if not, then wait until you are ready to register it before ever typing it in to a domain search

Using your method, www.test2.com isn't registered.

http://whois.domaintools.com/test2.com

ruffnat

Nov 10th 2007, 3:25 am

I never said it would get them all, but it is a good test to at least start with if you are worried about someone stealing your domain before you get a chance to register it

ryukenden

Nov 10th 2007, 3:36 am

Using your method, www.test2.com isn't registered.

http://whois.domaintools.com/test2.com

You could still click to the blank page of test2.com but if domain is not registered, you usually be redirected to msn toolbar.

sweetfunny

Nov 10th 2007, 5:16 am

I have had this happen as well, so i put up my own whois tool http://www.ad-idem.net

It doesnt even use a database, it puts the whois server results right on the screen.

Also if you have lost a domain to this sniffing, check it in a week thats how i got mine back. They must of tasted and dropped it because it had no traffic.

Dave Zan

Nov 10th 2007, 5:26 am

From what I've read @ Namepros, yes.

And can you kindly point out what thread in Namepros, or any place, confirms
that Go Daddy sells your searches? And while you're at it:

http://www.bobparsons.com/MayKiting_commentpage3.html?serendipity[searchTerm]=searches#c14586

First I assure you that we do not log searches and provide these lists to anyone.

Do you think Bob's lying?

kohashi

Nov 10th 2007, 11:15 am

And can you kindly point out what thread in Namepros, or any place, confirms
that Go Daddy sells your searches? And while you're at it:

http://www.bobparsons.com/MayKiting_commentpage3.html?serendipity[searchTerm]=searches#c14586

Do you think Bob's lying?

Yes. I recall someone saying a godaddy rep admitted their whois info was being leaked somehow. They may not sell it, but it DEFINITELY is leaked to tasters.