An expired domain can compromise a perfectly secure website

An expired domain can compromise a perfectly secure website.

Imagine your website loads a JavaScript file from a third-party domain.

The domain expires. Nobody renews it.

A hacker registers that domain and starts serving malicious JavaScript.

Your website continues loading the script, potentially exposing visitors to malicious code.

3 practical precautions

1. Audit external resources: Check which third-party domains your website loads scripts and other content from.
2. Monitor domain expiry: Enable auto-renewal and expiry alerts for domains your organisation controls.
3. Remove unused dependencies: Delete references to abandoned services and domains.

The takeaway: Your website's security can depend on domains you don't even own.