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If you want to have a website up on the internet, you must choose and buy a domain name. Once you choose one, you must also pick a top-level domain (i.e. TLD), the part of the domain that comes after the main name. For example, .com, .org, .gov, etc.
While most sites on the internet use the .com, it is sometimes a good idea to change that to something that fits your site more. Even though most are available for any person to use, there are some that are reserved for specific uses such as .us domains being reserved for entities located in the United States of America. Click to find out how to choose the best domain name for your site.
What is a Domain Name?
Before delving deeper into .gov domains, let us rehearse the basics and remember what is a domain name in general. A domain name is a string of characters that can be written into the address bar of a web browser to go to a specific site. It replaces the need to type in the IP address of the site, and instead with the help of DNS (Domain Name System) servers, allows you to simply write an easily memorable word, such as google.com or facebook.com.
What is a .gov Domain?
One top-level domain that is seen quite often is .gov. This domain is a special one as it is restricted to governmental entities, which is reflected in the price: $400. The only way one could obtain such a domain is to be a part of a governmental organization. Although it is the go-to domain for government agencies, some still use .com.
Is it possible to get a .gov domain without being a governmental entity?
Although previously thought to be impossible, some researchers proved that wrong. According to them, it was easier than expected and is an issue that should be looked into. They obtained the domain by simply filling out and emailing an official authorization form. Then the researchers grabbed some letterhead off a small US town that only had .us domain and impersonated that town’s mayor. They used a fake Google Voice number and a fake Gmail account to achieve this.
Even though the above-stated actions are highly illegal and were only done for the purposes of research, it proves that these actions could be done by criminals for more malicious purposes. This, in turn, proves that there need to be stricter regulations in place around .gov domains as regular internet users could possibly be misled by such a TLD and put their trust into a fake governmental site.
Conclusion
We hope that with the help of this brief explanation, you have expanded your knowledge about domains in general, and specifically, about .gov domains. We also have a complete guide to how you can buy a domain name, read this article and let us know if you encounter any problem with registering your domain name.
