So you have a website and you have paid your hosting and your domain name provider, all is good right? Well, maybe not.
Who is ICANN?
You see ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is an internationally organized, non-profit corporation that is responsible for IP (Internet Protocol) space allocation, protocol identifier assignment, generic (gTLD) and country code (ccTLD) Top-Level Domain name system management, and root server system management functions. ICANN is responsible for coordinating the management of DNS to ensure universal resolvability for all users on the Internet and valid all addresses. ICANN does this by overseeing the distribution of unique technical identifiers used in the Internet’s operations, and delegation of Top-Level Domain names. One of the responsibilities of ICANN is to verify that the registrant information on the domain name matches up with the company or persons in charge of that domain name.
What should I do if I receive an email from ICANN?
If you receive an email from ICANN that pertains to your domain name, follow the instructions provided to verify that the information on the registrant is accurate. ICANN will then accept the information is correct and clear your domain name. However, if you do nothing in regards to the email from ICANN, they can shut down your domain name making your website inaccessible to the world.
How can I ensure that my information is correct?
Locate where your domain name was purchased, then ensure that the contact information on the registrant is accurate and that the email address associated with the account is an active and accessible. This will ensure that if you do get an email from ICANN you can follow the steps needed to verify your information and your website won’t get shut down.