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Frequently asked questions

  • I am looking for a domain name registrant. Where can I look it up?

    The Whois is an easy-to-use tool for checking the availability of a .nl domain name. If the domain name is already taken, you can see who has registered it.

    On the page looking up a domain name you will find more information about what a domain name is, how the Whois works and how the privacy of personal data is protected. Alternatively, you can go straight to look for a domain name via the Whois.

  • I would like to transfer my domain name to another registrar. What is the procedure?

    To get your domain name transferred, you need the token (unique ID number) for your domain name. Your existing registrar has the token and is obliged to give it to you within five days, if you ask for it. The procedure for changing your registrar is described on the page transferring your domain name.

  • The details registered about me/my company are incorrect or out of date. How can I get them updated?

    To update the contact details associated with your domain name, you need to contact your registrar. Read more about updating contact details.

  • Why is my domain name in quarantine?

    When a domain name is cancelled, we aren't told the reason, so we can't tell you. You'll need to ask your registrar. The advantage of quarantine is that, if a name's cancelled by mistake, you can always get it back.

    One common reason is that the contract between you and your registrar says you've got to renew the registration every year. If you haven't set up automatic renewal and you don't renew manually, the registration will expire.

  • Ik heb een klacht over mijn provider/registrar. Kan ik daarvoor bij SIDN terecht?

    Wanneer je een klacht hebt over of een geschil met je registrar dan zijn er verschillende mogelijkheden om tot een oplossing te komen. Hierover lees je meer op pagina klacht over registrar. SIDN heeft geen formele klachtenprocedure voor het behandelen van een klacht over jouw registrar.

  • What conditions do I have to meet as a registrar?

    Would you like to be able to register domain names for customers or for your own organisation by dealing directly with SIDN? If so, you can become a .nl registrar. Read more about the conditions and how to apply for registrar status on the page becoming a registrar.

More frequently asked questions

Many Dutch people are still using (insecure) public Wi-Fi

  • Wednesday 17 October 2018

According to the National Cybersecurity Awareness Survey 2018, undertaken as part of the annual Alert Online awareness campaign, 38 per cent of Dutch people let their laptops connect to the internet using public Wi-Fi. On their smartphones, 31 per cent are willing to use public Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, if a Wi-Fi network at an airport, restaurant or holiday venue is open to customers and guests, it's open to cybercrooks as well. In other words, it's not secure, even if you need a password to connect.

Using public Wi-Fi can be dangerous

wifi

When you connect to a public Wi-Fi network on your phone, laptop or tablet, cybercrooks can access your device and therefore your personal data. They can see what you do on line and use data sent from your phone to access your Facebook or DigiD account. Fortunately, you can avoid problems by thinking about your settings before you connect. With your device set up the right way, the risk of hackers stealing and using your personal data will be much smaller.

Security benefits of VPN unused by many

One way to get on line securely via public Wi-Fi is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN is like an additional layer between the public network and the internet, which uses encryption to keep your traffic secure. However, one of the worrying things to come out of the survey is that one laptop user in three never uses a VPN when connecting via public Wi-Fi. And nearly half of smartphone users never make use of VPNs.

How to use a public Wi-Fi network securely

  • Don't let your phone, laptop or tablet connect to a public network automatically.

    Disable Wi-Fi or select the 'Always ask before connecting' option.

  • Always prefer a 3G or 4G mobile network to Wi-Fi – they're more secure.

    If you've got to use a public network, don't do any website-based internet banking or other things that involve the exchange of personal data. And make sure that the websites you visit have SSL security certificates: look out for ‘https://’ in the URL and a green lock icon in your browser. Finally, don't install software updates while connected to a public network.

  • For optimum security on a public network, use a VPN. With a VPN client installed on your device, you have an additional, encrypted layer between the public network and the internet. Your device connects to the public network, and via that network to the VPN. Then you can confidently do your internet banking or surf the net without leaking personal data. VPN apps are available both for

    Android devices and for iPhones.

  • Tell your device to 'forget' public networks after using them.

    Cybercrooks can mimic the public Wi-Fi network of, say, a café that you once visited. To stop your device connecting to a spoof network, go to the 'Saved networks' list in your Wi-Fi settings and select 'Forget network' for each old public network.

Watch Hackman use public Wi-Fi to get at Lieke van Lexmond's personal data

Hackman used a public Wi-Fi network to gain unauthorised access to the personal data of actress and presenter Lieke van Lexmond. Watch the video!

Want to know how to connect a wireless device to public Wi-Fi securely? Read our security tips.