How to verify a domain?

What does it mean

Domain verification is a key step for anyone who wants to have a professional and trustworthy online presence. In Slovakia, the process of domain verification is important not only from a security perspective but also to protect against potential trust issues. In this article, we will look at why domain verification is important, how to easily perform it, and what tools you can use.

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Why is domain verification important?

Protection against misuse and fraud

• Domain verification protects your website from misuse and unauthorized access. Without verification, your domain can be attacked and exploited for various fraudulent activities that can damage your reputation.

Higher credibility for visitors

• For visitors, it is important that the website is verified, especially if it collects sensitive data such as payment information or personal details. A trustworthy domain strengthens the relationship with customers and promotes a sense of security when visiting the site.

SEO benefits

• Verified and secure domains often have advantages in search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines prefer trustworthy sites, so a verified domain can positively impact the site's ranking in search results.

How can you verify a domain?

Domain verification can be done in several ways, depending on the purpose of the verification. For Slovak websites, the verification process is often part of purchasing a domain or DNS settings. Let's look at the individual steps and options.

1. Verification through a domain provider

The simplest way to verify a domain is through the registrar where you purchased the domain. For example, if you registered your domain through Slovak providers like Websupport, Forpsi, or Zoner, you can verify with them whether the domain is truly in your ownership and properly set up.

• When purchasing a domain, you receive access to an account where you can manage DNS records and perform the necessary verification.
• Providers usually send an email to verify the owner, which contains a confirmation link.

2. Verification using an SSL certificate

An SSL certificate enhances the security of a website by encrypting communication between users and the server. The certificate is also a form of domain verification – by installing an SSL certificate (https), you can show visitors that your site is secure.

• You can obtain an SSL certificate from a domain provider or through specialized companies like Let's Encrypt, DigiCert, or Comodo.
• After installing the certificate, a lock appears in the URL, indicating that the site is secure and verified.

3. Verification using the WHOIS tool

The WHOIS tool provides information about domains, including the owner, registration dates, and registrar details. This tool can be useful if you want to quickly find out who owns a particular domain or when it expires.

• In Slovakia, you can verify domain information using tools like NIC.SK or Global DNS.
• Simply enter the domain name into the WHOIS search engine to get information about its owner and status.

4. Verification through Google Search Console

If you want your site to be indexed in the Google search engine, you must add it to Google Search Console. When adding a domain to Google Search Console, you need to confirm its ownership, which can be done using various methods:

• Uploading an HTML file: Google provides an HTML file that you must upload to your website.
• Meta tag: If you don't have FTP access, you can add a verification meta tag to the homepage header.
• DNS record: Adding a special DNS record to the domain settings is another way of verification.

Google Search Console then allows you to monitor website performance, track traffic, and diagnose potential issues.

When is it necessary to verify a domain?

Domain verification is important in these cases:

1. When launching a new website – before putting the site into operation, it is advisable to have it verified and secured.

2. When changing the domain owner – if you are selling or buying a domain, you should always perform verification to ensure the transfer was successful.

3. When securing the site with an SSL certificate – especially for e-shops and sites that collect sensitive data, an SSL certificate and domain verification are essential.