If you have a domain name from GoDaddy one of the largest domain name registrar in the world. You need this additional information for you to secure your account.

GoDaddy called it as Two-Step Authentication (see attached picture), in information technology industry we simply call it as Two-Factor Authentication

If you missed reading these articles related to Two Factor Authentication.
Securing Gmail  with Two-Factor Authentication.
WordPress Two Factor Authentication.

Two Factor Authentication
Some services uses a time-based smart cards that provides random six numbers every 60 seconds, and other services use your smart phones to receive random six numbers. For GoDaddy Two-Step Authentication is using your smartphone. This makes sense, you carry your smartphone everyday so no added apps or reading device for additional security to protect your account. I see the future of smartphone as a personal key to connect to your virtual world.

As of today, you can use your smartphone to surf the Internet, pay bills, connect with your family and friends through different social media, take pictures and become your primary photo album, and security.

Let’s go back to the topic e.g. Two Factor Authentication.

How to enable Two-Step Authentication using your GoDaddy Account?
Login to your GoDaddy account using your Customer number or email address, and your password.
Click on My Account.
In My Account, click Update Security Setting. Here you will see the Two-Step Authentication. Enable it, and the system will send you a verification code that will expire on a given time limit.

That’s all. You just added second layer of security to your GoDaddy Account.

Now every time you login to your account, you will be prompted to enter a Validation Code. As shown below.

I hope this article help you minimize risk of account exposure from malicious users.

If this helped you, please take the time to share this post by sharing using Google+, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn

If you are running a self-hosted or through WordPress.com service, this article is for you to secure your website/blog. I will provide you a step-by-step procedure on how you implement the two-factor authentication for your WordPress, the easy way.

Just in case you have not read about:

“How to remove the BLOG slug in WordPress multisite installation“.

“Gmail Security – Two factor authentication“.

Login to you WordPress Admin. I write this procedure using my own website at www.king.net on how to install Google two-factor authentication.

Go to Plugins, search for “Google Authenticator” by Henrik Schack currently at version 0.44.

Excerpt from the Henrik Schack plugins description. “The Google Authenticator plugin for WordPress gives you two-factor authentication using the Google Authenticator app for Android/iPhone/Blackberry.” I am using iPhone4S to test the plugins.

Click on Install Now. Successfully installed the plugin Google Authenticator 0.44.

At KING.NET, the website is configured for multisites. I prefer not to Network Activate so I can manage the behavior of every website that runs on my platform.

Continue to your website dashboard, and activate Google Authenticator plugin.

Go to Users, and click Your Profile. I logged in as Admin, I am adding Google Authenticator  two-factor security feature for my Admin account.

Google Authenticator Settings

Put check on Active, and I ignore “relaxed mode” for now.

Take note of the description, by default it is “WordPressBlog”. I changed this to KING.NET-Web without spaces so I can recognize this website from other online properties that I have.

Click on Create new secret, it will show the QR code for you to scan.

I have my Google Authenticator App downloaded to my iPhone. If you don’t have this app, go to App Store  search for Google Authenticator.

In Google Authenticator App, click the (+) sign to add, touch Scan Barcode and point this to your WordPress website QR Code. If successful, you will see your website added to your Google Authenticator.

Don’t forget to save, click Update Profile.

That’s it, I just added two-factor authentication to my wordpress website.

Here’s a capture images:

This a my web setting:

And this is how I login using Google Two-Factor authentication.

That’s for self-hosted wordpress.

And if you are using WordPress.com, you might need to read this article.

http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/two-step-authentication/

Have a safe working environment.
Thank you.

If this helped you, please take the time to share this post by sharing using Google+, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn

New Domains. New Opportunities.
Starting 2013, new domain extensions, or TLDs, will change how the world uses the Web. People will have the option of choosing memorable and intuitive domain names specific to their online ventures. New TLDs help consumers know what to expect from the websites they visit, making it easier to find sites relevant to them.

New TLDs are Kind of a Big Deal
New TLDs are the future of the Internet. Your business needs to make the leap or be left behind. Major players like Google, Amazon and even brands like Ferrari are investing in the success of new TLDs. With consumers being exposed to more than 1,000 TLDs in 2013, they’ll want their own descriptive and memorable domain name for their website.

Build Your Own Watchlist
Track the new TLDs and domains that interest you.

• Receive instant updates on your list items
• Participate in pre-launch phases like Sunrise & Landrush
• Place domain orders from Watchlist
• Submit Items to Watchlist FREE with no commitment

Get Started, build your watch list today.

What is a TLD?
TLD stands for Top Level Domain. It’s sometimes more simply referred to as the domain’s extension. The most famous example is .com. So for example, in google.com the TLD is .com. In google.net the TLD is .net.

What is the lifecycle of a new TLD?
New TLDs will go through a typical lifecycle such as this:
TLD Application – Sunrise Period – Landrush – General Availability

Where will I go for Pre-Registration, Sunrise and other periods before Go Live?
You will be able to purchase domain names directly from Watchlist as registries begin taking orders for each TLD.

What is a TLD Application?
When a company wants to open a new TLD, they must submit a proposal to ICANN for review. The new TLD can be launched once ICANN approves the application.

What is Sunrise?
Sunrise period is the phase of a TLD launch during which only owners of trademarks may register domain names containing their owned marks.

What is Landrush?
Landrush is the phase of a TLD launch during which domain names are available for registration for non-trademark holders that wish to register generic terms like loan or car but cannot participate in the Sunrise period. Landrush comes after Sunrise but before General Availability.

What is General Availability?
General Availability is the phase of a TLD launch when domain names are publicly available for anyone to register as long as registrants adhere to the requirements established by that particular TLD’s registry.

Is there a charge to use the Watchlist?
Watchlist is FREE with no obligation or commitment. You may enter in as many domains to watch as you like. We will inform you as we update the rules for Watchlist.

How will I know what to do next?
We will update Watchlist and email you details as information becomes available for each TLD.

How will the Watchlist help me register my domain(s)?
You will be able to place orders for Sunrise, Landrush and General Availability direct from Watchlist. We’ll send you emails when we begin accepting orders so you don’t miss the chance to get the domains you want.

My Watchlist items are in Awaiting Evaluation status. What does that mean?
Applications for new TLDs in this status have been submitted but have not yet been scheduled for review by ICANN, the organization overseeing the new TLD program. The status will be updated once the evaluation of the TLD application begins.

How much will it cost to register domains in these new TLDs?
The registries have not published their pricing yet and we are only accepting Watchlist submissions, which are free and non-binding.

Do I have to buy all of the domains in my Watchlist?
Your Watchlist is an expression of interest, not a commitment to buy. You may remove items from Watchlist at any time.

When are the TLDs in the Watchlist going live?
Each proposed TLD has is pending approval by ICANN. As applications are approved, each TLD will have its own launch timeline. Watchlist will be updated as those timelines become available.

Will I be able to tell if other people have submitted any of the domains on my Watchlist?
All Watchlist entries are private to the account that submitted them.

Why can’t I add some proposed TLDs to Watchlist?
Watchlist does not accept TLDs that will not be available for public registration. Updates to Watchlist are ongoing as the status of TLDs change.

Who is ICANN?
The non-profit organization that regulates the domain naming system for the Internet. ICANN’s mission is to ensure the continued stability and security of the DNS (Domain Name System).

January 25, 2013 ended the dotINFO auction at GoDaddy. Flowers.info sold for $22,005, Gambling.info sold for $10,505, World.info sold for $9,675, and here’s the summary.

flowers.info $22005 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
gambling.info $10505 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
world.info $9674 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
social.info $7305 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
tech.info $7305 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
bible.info $6705 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
home.info $5615 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
autos.info $5105 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
computer.info $5025 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
fashion.info $5020 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
fashion.info $5020 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
test.info $5015 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
family.info $2805 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
porno.info $2655 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
media.info $2560 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
chocolate.info $1905 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
planet.info $1893 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
painting.info $1855 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013
webmaster.info $1355 GoDaddy Auction 1/25/2013

If this helped you, please take the time to share this post by sharing using Google+, Facebook, or Twitter.

Some domain names that were sold last two weeks that deserve our attention.

• DetroitCity.com is a pure GEO domain name, and sold for $3,155 last January 7, 2013. Great catch!
• Laye.com sold for $2,525.00 last January 7, 2013. I am a fan of four letters, easy to pronounce, and affordable domain.
• PCGeek.com sold for $2,505.00 January 8, 2013. Great company name to provide preventive and maintenance services.

For complete sales, visit Domain Graph sales report.

I received an email today with a subject of “GoDaddy Domain Account Upgrade Confirmation“, see the captured email looks like. I am not aware of GoDaddy’s upgrade confirmation so I checked the link provided to the email. The link behind “Click here Upgrade account” and call to action image “Go to My Account” are linked to an IP Address 115.47.19.5:3389. I checked the IP Address owner, it is assigned in China. I don’t know about you, but GoDaddy is based in USA. The 3389 after the colon, is a port number use for remote access. Actually, this is the default port number for most Windows Remote Server or Terminal Server.

Here’s the IP Address (115.47.19.5) Owner information:

inetnum:        115.47.0.0 – 115.47.255.255
netname:        XRNET
descr:          Beijing XiRang Media Cultural Co., Ltd.
descr:          Build A6-1702,Fenghuahaojing,No.6 Guanganmennei Road
descr:          Xuanwu, Beijing, China, 100053
country:        CN
admin-c:        DL762-AP
tech-c:         DL762-AP
mnt-by:         MAINT-CNNIC-AP
mnt-lower:      MAINT-CNNIC-AP
mnt-routes:     MAINT-CNNIC-AP
changed:        hm-changed@apnic.net 20080711
status:         ALLOCATED PORTABLE
source:         APNIC

person:         Dong Lin
nic-hdl:        DL762-AP
e-mail:         donglin@xrnet.cn
address:        Build A6-1702,Fenghuahaojing,No.6 Guanganmennei Road, Xuanwu
address:        Beijing, China, 100053
phone:          +86-010-83554017
fax-no:         +86-010-83514169
country:        CN
changed:        ipas@cnnic.net.cn 20060406
mnt-by:         MAINT-CNNIC-AP
source:         APNIC

If you received a similar email, simply delete it.

Thank you,

Support, KING.NET

If this helped you, please take the time to share this post by sharing using Google+, Facebook, or Twitter.

New TLDs Infographic

Interested in participating in the New TLD Watchlist? Click Here

Enjoy the picture courtesy by ABC/NASA