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SUPPORT Frequently Asked
Questions
BILLING/ REGISTRATION
HOSTING
TRANSFERS/ RENEWALS
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
DOMAIN NAME
A domain name is the essence of your company's online identity. It is the address your customers use
to find information about your products and services on the web. Domain names allow Internet users to
type in a name, such as DotDealers.com, to identify a numeric Internet Protocol (IP) address such as
216.55.1.2. The purpose of domain names is to allow users connected to the Internet the ability to
find web sites without having to memorize the long, numerical (IP) addresses that actually locate the
computers or servers on the Internet.
PAYMENT
We accept all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover.
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REGISTRATION
The cost to register a domain name with DotDealers is only $9.95 per year. As long as you pay the yearly fee, the domain is yours.
If there's a domain you'd like to check availability for, you should enter it into the searchbox on our homepage. If it's available, click the checkout button and go through the registration process.
The first time you register a name with DotDealers, you'll need to set up an account with a username and password. This is how you will get access to your domains later. You may specify whatever username and password you'd like, as long as it has not been taken by another applicant. If your username has been taken, you will have to specify another username.
Continue on through the registration process, and your name will be submitted. You will get a confirmation email at the email address you've chosen. You will also receive all email correspondance through that email address, as well.
If you have any other questions, just let us know.
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RECEIPT
In order to keep our costs low, DotDealers does not do any paper billing. All of our transactions are conducted online.
Therefore, we cannot send you a receipt, as we have no capabilities for such. You can, however, log in to our management section and click on the "Billing History/Receipts" link, and
obtain a copy of your credit card charges.
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CASH ACCOUNTS
You can set up an account with us by pre-paying with a certified check or money
order (both in U.S. Dollars). Each domain registration, renewal or transfer will draw from this account, until the funds are depleted. The funds can be replenished at your convenience.
You will still need the relevant account information. With your certified check or money order, include your name, address, phone, and email. You will also need to choose a username and password. Please indicate the registrant (owner of the names).
You may start an account with any amount of money, however, you must have at least $9.95 in your account for a new domain registration, renewal or transfer.
If you would like to set an account up, send us an email to: cashaccount@DotDealers.com and we will help you
through the process.
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BILLING- AUTHORIZATIONS
When you attempt to make a purchase in our credit card system, we
"authorize" funds on your credit card. This is not a charge, but a
test to see if you have the funds available for the purchase. After the
authorization returns a result of sufficient funds, we attempt to register the
domain(s). If the domain registration fails for any reason, there will be a void
that accompanies the attempted charge. The net result is that there will be no
charge that posts to your account.
There is still, though, that authorization on your credit card. This
authorization looks like a charge, and will reduce your available credit, but
will expire on its own within a few days on most cards. Some card systems,
notably debit cards and PayPal cards (because they both deal with your bank
account) hang on to authorizations longer. You should contact your credit
provider for the specific authorization policy.
It is for this reason that we recommend contacting technical support if you
are having trouble registering a domain. If you continue to submit time after
time, you will rack up a large number of authorizations, and may run out of
available credit or freeze your account funds. You may even cause your credit
card company to suspect fraud, and they will put a hold on your card.
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BILLING- CVV2
CVV2 is a security measure we require for all transactions. Since a CVV2 number
is listed on your credit card, but is not stored anywhere, the only way to know
the correct CVV2 number for your credit card is to physically have possession of
the card itself. All VISA, MasterCard and American Express cards made in America
in the past 5 years or so have a CVV2 number, while those in Europe and Asia
will be joining the CVV2 program shortly.
For a complete explanation of the CVV2 number, and how to locate it on your
credit card, click here:
https://secure.onlineaccess.net/cart/cvv2.php?IYD=1&ID=
If you have any other questions about your CVV2 number, please contact your
bank or credit card issuer.
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HOSTING - no hosting
DotDealers does offer web hosting at this time, only domain registration services.
You will need to contract out for separate web hosting- you can do a web search for hosting, and get thousands of results to choose from. Once you have hosting, obtain your new host's DNS (Domain Name Server) Information. Once you have their DNS info, you can return to the DotDealers website and update your DNS records online, gaining access to our Domain Manager area with your username and password.
Or, if you have a free site (such as a members site with AOL or Geocities), you can point your domain there by using our URL-forwarding option.
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HOSTING II - changing hosting
You have several options to change the hosting of your domain.
The first option is the most direct. You can contact your host, and obtain your new host's DNS
(Domain Name Server) Information. Once you have their DNS info, you can return to the
DotDealers website and update your DNS records online, gaining access to our Domain
Manager area with your username and password. Choose the Change DNS Info link, then select the domain
you wish to change the hosting for and enter your new DNS information.
Some hosts, though, will not allow unique domains to point to your site. In that case, you'll need
the second option. That is our URL-forwarding service. URL-forwarding is a function of the management
control panel. Access the Manage section through our Domain Manager with your username and password,
and select the URL-forwarding link. It is just $4.50 per name per year to receive banner-free forwarding to the URL of your choice.
You can use a www URL- http : //www.yourcompany.com/yourexamplesite.html, or a host URL- http : //12.34.56.789.
Both options will take 24-48 hours to take effect.
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HOSTING III - changing DNS
Your host should have given you the primary and secondary DNS information. This information will usually take this form:
Primary Hostname- ns1.examplehostname.com
Primary IP- 123.45.67.8
Secondary Hostname- ns2.examplehostname.com
Secondary IP- 123.45.67.9
You can log on to our website at www.DotDealers.com, and click the "Domain Manager" link.
Enter the username and password you chose at the time of registration. If
you have forgotten the username and password you chose, you may enter the email address you entered
at the time of registration to have your username and password emailed to you.
After you log in, you will see links to the actions you can perform. Click the "Change DNS Info" link.
You will be able to see the current nameserver info listed. Select the
domain(s) whose hosting you wish to alter, and click the "Continue" button.
On the next screen, you will be able to enter the hosting information your host has given to you.
Replace the current servers with the new server info (you may omit the IP addresses, as they are
optional), and click the "Continue" button. Your new DNS information will be automatically entered,
if it is verified to be valid.
It will take a couple of days (24 - 48 hours) for your change to propagate Internet-wide.
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URL-FORWARDING
URL-forwarding is available as a service from DotDealers. URL-forwarding is a function of
the management control panel.
Access the Manage section through our Domain Manager with your username and password, and select the
URL-forwarding link. It is just $4.50 per name per year to receive banner-free forwarding to the URL of
your choice.
You can use a www URL- http : //www.yourcompany.com/yourexamplesite.html, or a host URL-
http : //12.34.56.789.
It will take a couple of days for your change to propagate Internet-wide. Your domain will be hosted
on our servers, and will pull up the webpage you specify. Therefore, you cannot specify meta tags or
other domain information. Your name will be in the address bar of the browser window at all times-
your "real" web address will be hidden.
You may change your forwarding destination at any time through the
management control panel. Simply log back in to the Enable URL-forwarding section, and
update your web address. Click the Enable URL-forwarding to update the address.
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EMAIL FORWARDING
Email forwarding is available as a service of DotDealers. You can
have "anymailrecipient @ yourdomain.com" mail forwarded to any existing
email address.
To activate email forwarding, log on to the Manage section via the
Domain Manager link. Enter your
username and password. If you have forgotten your username and password,
enter the email address you used at the time of registration, and we
will email you your username and password.
Once you've logged on, click the Enable Email Forwarding link. Select
what email address you'd like to set up for your domain, as well as the
email address you'd like to forward that email to. If your real email
address changes, no problem. Just return to the Control Panel and the
email forwarding section and update your email address.
The cost for email forwarding is $5.50 per year for up to 10 addresses.
You may purchase an additional 10 addresses for $5.50. It will take
24-48 hours for your email to begin forwarding.
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TRANSFERS
If your domain was registered with another registrar, you can transfer it to
our system, and probably save yourself some money.
The cost to transfer a domain is just $9.95, and this adds one year on to your registration term. For
example, if your name expires in January of 2008, you can transfer it to us and once the transfer is
complete, the new expiration date will be January of 2009.
To begin, click on the Transfer Domains link at www.DotDealers.com. If you have an existing
account with us, enter your username and password. If you have never used our services before, click
on the New Users button, and set up an account with a username and password. This is how you will get
access to your domain once the transfer is complete.
You will receive confirmation of your request immediately. Also, within 24 hours, the administrative
contact listed in the WHOIS record will be asked to verify the transfer request. Please make sure
that the admin contact's email is up-to-date before submitting a name for transfer.
In the admin approval email, there will be a link to click on, and a code to cut and paste. Once
you've approved the transfer, your prior registrar may email you their own confirmation letter. Read
it carefully and follow the instructions. Once you've approved the transfer with them, your name
should migrate to our system within 5-7 days.
FOR THIS REASON, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU BEGIN THE TRANSFER PROCEDURE AT LEAST TWO
WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
The information currently contained in your domain will remain the same prior to, during and after
the transfer. Once the domain has successfully transferred to our system, you may begin using the
online management system to make any changes you like.
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TRANSFERS IV - NSI
If your domain will not transfer because it has expired, or if your registry has
it locked until you renew it, you do have a couple of options. One is to pay the
registrar their fee to renew it for a year, and then continue the transfer. The
other is to allow the name to be released, and then try to re-register it. We
don't recommend the second option under any circumstances.
It's entirely possible that someone else will get your domain before you have
a chance to reserve it. Additionally, it is the policy of some registrars (most
notably Network Solutions) not to release the domain no matter how long it has
been expired. If you want the domain at all, you'll have to pay them at some
point, sooner or later.
Therefore, we recommend that you do renew the name with your prior registrar
for one additional year. Then, you can continue the transfer process to our
system. You lose nothing by doing both. You'll get a one year renewal from your
prior registrar, and then we will add one MORE year on to the end of your term.
If you have already paid for a domain transfer, and it has been denied by
your registrar, you can keep the transfer active, and, as previously mentioned,
continue the transfer after you have cleared your hold status at your prior
registrar. Should you choose to cancel the transfer, however, we'll be happy to
refund your money. All we need is the domain you're trying to transfer.
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TRANSFERS V- email link
If your link returns a value of "invalid key" after you paste the
approval code in, this is most likely a result of multiple emails being sent
out. The latest version of your admin approval email makes all older versions
obsolete, and any key off these old emails will not function properly. If you
receive an invalid key warning, check for a later email in your inbox. If it's
not there, contact support to have a newer one sent.
If the link you're clicking on for transfers returns this response-
"Warning, your ID is invalid. Contact technical support", then the
remedy is to have the entire link contained in the browser window.
Some email programs have a "page-wrap" feature that breaks our link
into two parts, like this:
If you wish to verify and approve the transfer(s), visit the following link:
https://secure.onlineaccess.net/trans.php?
email=email@domain.com&key=ti&FID=&IYD=1&secID=
For conveniences' sake, let's break this down like this:
If you wish to verify and approve the transfer(s), visit the following link:
linkpart1
linkpart2
You will have to copy (CTRL + C) the first part of the link (which begins
with "https:" and ends with "?" in the case above) and paste
(CTRL + V) into the address bar your browser window. Do not hit GO or hit the
Enter key yet. Return to the email and copy the second part of the link on the
line below the first one (which begins with "email" and ends with
"=" in the case above) and copy it into the address bar of your
browser window, after the first part of the link you pasted there earlier.
In your browser window then, the address you need to go to is:
linkpart1linkpart2
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TRANSFERS VI- check transfer status
You can use the Check Transfer Status tool to manage your domain transfer away
from your previous registrar to our system.
Access the Manage section through our Domain Manager with your username and
password, and select the Check Transfer Status link. Your domain transfers will
appear. Some will require no intervention from you (marked in green). Others
(marked in yellow) may require you to resubmit an admin approval email if the
domain has not been approved for transfer with us. Or, you may resubmit a domain
for transfer to your prior registrar if it has been approved on our end, but
your prior registrar denied the transfer.
If a domain appears in red, it's status cannot be determined automatically.
Please contact us for help with these domains.
A domain that has successfully completed transfer will appear in blue.
Some of the most common reasons for your prior registrar denying the transfer
include:
Not answering their confirmation email in time.
Not answering their confirmation email in the proper format.
The domain is expired or otherwise locked due to nonpayment.
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LOST USERNAME/ PASSWORD
If you have forgotten your username and/or password for the domain you registered, you can request it
1) via email or 2) prove ownership.
1) Log on to www.DotDealers.com, and click on the Domain Manager link.
There is a "Forgot Your Password?" section, where you can enter your email address. We will email
your username and password immediately.
IMPORTANT- Depending on your mail system, it may take some time to receive, usually no longer than
15 minutes. You must enter the email address you used at the time of registration.
You must enter the email address you used at the time of registration. PLEASE NOTE- this must be an
EXACT match. If there was a typo or any other error when you submitted this email address and/or the
email address can no longer receive mail, that cannot be helped. You must move on to Step 2
in this case. ALSO, this email address is the default email address for the account holder. The email
address of any of the contacts is NOT valid. Only the email address for the account can retrieve the
username and password.
2.) If you have forgotten your username and password AND your
email address is incorrect or out of date,
you will be asked to provide proof of ownership and identity. We will first need a written request to
provide access to the domain. This request MUST contain the following information- the domain(s) in
question, the request for access to said domain, as well as your contact address, preferably email.
Accompany this request with a valid photo ID (passport, drivers license, etc.) If the domain is registered
to a company, we will need the signatory page of the articles of incorporation for that company. All of
this information is required for security reasons. If you cannot provide any or all of this information,
you will not be able to get access to this domain. Please fax all of this information to (416) 352-0113.
Include your contact information (email and phone), so that we may verify the information's validity.
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NAMESERVER MANAGEMENT
Go to our website at www.DotDealers.com and access the Domain Manager with the username
and password of the account containing the domain you wish to specify as the hostname of your new
nameservers.
Click the Nameserver Management link. You will be able to create new nameservers,
edit current nameservers, or delete current nameservers. The nameserver you wish
to create must be a domain in this account. Click the New button to create new
nameservers. Then, you will choose your new server hostnames- i.e. NS1.YOURNEWSERVERHOSTNAME.COM & NS2.YOURNEWSERVERHOSTNAME.COM. You must also fill in the IP addresses that you wish to associate with your new hostnames. You must use 2 unique static IP addresses- no other servers may already use the
IPs. After each nameserver submission, click the Continue button.
If your information is valid, your nameservers will be sent to the central database. It will take 24-48 hours for your nameservers to propagate.
Please note, this is the limit of our tech support- if you need support on how to configure your server or any other issue, you must get outside support.
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RENEWALS
You can renew your domain you registered at, or transferred to, DotDealers.com for up to 10 years.
Simply log on to our website at www.DotDealers.com, and click the "Domain Manager" link.
Enter the username and password you chose at the time of registration. If you have forgotten the
username and password you chose, you may enter the email address you entered at the time of
registration to have your username and password emailed to you.
You will see links to all of the actions that you can perform. One of the links is to "Renew Your
Domains". Click that link, and check the box next to each domain you wish to renew. Click the
Continue button.
Choose the length of time you wish to renew each domain for. (Remember, you can renew for up to 10
years- if your domain will expire in 3 + years, you will only be able to renew 6 additional years.)
Click the Continue button.
You will then be asked about your payment information. Click the Continue button to finalize the
renewal.
IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO RENEW YOUR NAMES- use the "Disable Renewal
Notices" link in the manager. You will not receive further reminders to renew your names, and
they will be released on the expiration date.
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DISABLING RENEWALS
If you do not wish to renew any of your domains, and you do not want to receive
renewal emails, you can stop the emails from being sent, and your domain will
expire at the end of it's term.
Simply log on to our website at www.DotDealers.com, and click the "Domain Manager" link.
Enter the username and password you chose at the time of registration. If you have forgotten the
username and password you chose, you may enter the email address you entered at the time of
registration to have your username and password emailed to you.
You will see links to all of the actions that you can perform. One of the links is to
"Disable Renewal Notices". Click that link, and check the box next to each domain you wish
not to renew. Click the Continue button.
You will be prompted for confirmation, as this action means your domains will be
released at the end of their term. Click the "Yes" button to finalize
the disabling of your chosen domains.
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CHANGING CONTACT INFO
Changing the admin, billing and technical contact information can be accomplished via the Management control panel.
To begin, click the Domain Manager link on our website at www.DotDealers.com. Enter your
username and password. If you have forgotten your username and password, you can enter the email
address you used at the time of registration to receive your username and password via email.
Once you're in the Management system, click the "Edit/ Manage Contact Handles" link. A contact
handle is a shorthand version of all of your contact information. You can edit any of your contact
handles here (click the "Edit" button next to the handle), or create new ones (click the "Create New
Handle" link at the top of the page). Once you have the contact handle information the way you want
it, return to the main screen of the Manager.
Next, click the "Assign Domain Contacts" link. A list of your domains, as well as the current
contact handle associated with the domains, will show. Choose the domain you'd like to change
information for, and click the Continue button.
Choose what information you'd like to update- admin, billing and/or technical, and click the Continue
button. You may choose any of the IYD contact handles you have set up in our system.
Click the Continue button to finalize the change. Our system will update immediately, however, it
will take 24-48 hours for the information to propagate Internet-wide.
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SECURE CONTACT INFO
You may use contact info of your choice for a domain. Many people are reluctant to use their personal
information, especially if a domain may be objectionable to some.
This is technically a violation of the Terms of Service, which state that correct contact information
must be provided.
DotDealers, however, will not take action against you solely for that reason. We appreciate
security concerns, and allow you to provide whatever information you like.
Should your site be objected to, though, DotDealers will attempt to contact you. If your
contact information is false, and we cannot contact you to respond to any complaint, your domain may be
deactivated.
If you need to change registrant info to something more secure, follow this procedure:
We often receive requests to casually change the registrant information, since it is the only aspect
of a domain that cannot be accessed through our online management system. Some people wish to update
their address that has changed, or the company name, which has been bought out. Others want to remove
their ownership information for security purposes.
Changing the registrant information requires a higher level of security, since it affects the
ownership of a domain. You should also be aware that it may affect your ownership adversely. For
example, should someone file a WIPO claim to this domain, one of the ways ICANN will resolve the
dispute is to immediately terminate a disputed domain if the information provided is known to be
false.
Should you wish to go ahead with your change of ownership, we will require some actions on your part,
in order to assure good faith on your part, and reflect security concerns on our part.
The steps for changing the registrant are as follows:
1. You should change your administrative, technical or billing contacts (at least one of these) over
to the information you wish us to use, in order for the change to be accurate. We will cut-and-paste your information directly from the contact you specify.
2. Make a request to support@DotDealers.com to change the registrant information. Provide
the domain, your username and password, and the contact info we are to use.
We may ask for verification from the registered contact for this domain.
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CHANGING ACCOUNT INFO
Changing your default account information can be accomplished via the Management control panel.
To begin, click the Domain Manager link on our website at www.DotDealers.com. Enter your
username and password. If you have forgotten your username and password, you can enter the email
address you used at the time of registration to receive your username and password via email.
Once you're in the Management system, if you wish to change your password, click the "Change Your
Password" link. You'll be asked for your current password, as well as your new password twice.
PLEASE NOTE: Once you hit the "Change Password" button, your change is finalized.
If you wish to change the default account information click the "Update Account Information" link.
You'll be able to update the email address for your account, your default registrant & contact
info, your default nameservers and your default credit card information.
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NEW ACCOUNTS
If you have domains under a username and password, you can create a new account and move a domain in
your current account to that new account.
The best way to create a new account is to go to our home page and search for a domain that does not
exist, such as asdgsdfgwtertgrteqagsdfbdswtwfafvasdfweragdasfvasfasfwfasfwe.com.
When that comes up as available, click the Checkout button and then enter the New User section. Fill
out the default information for the new account, and click Continue. (If you like, you may enter
default credit card info as the following- VISA 4444444444444444 03/03 This is a "dummy" credit card
account.)
After your new account has been verified, click the Cancel button to stop the registration. You will
not be charged, and the domain will not be registered if you click the Cancel button, but the account
will still be valid.
Once you have the new account set up, you can contact support@DotDealers.com. Give us the
domain, as well as the username and password for the current account, and the username of the account
you want us to transfer the name to.
We may contact you via email to confirm.
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MERGING ACCOUNTS
If you have created more than one account with DotDealers, you can merge all of your domains into
one account.
Simply provide the username and password of all the accounts you have, as well as the username of the
account you want to be the single account for all of your domains.
We will transfer all of your domains into the account with the name you've specified.
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INTERNIC UPDATES
It usually takes two business days for updates made online at DotDealers to be seen
elsewhere on the web, including hosting information.
This is standard Internet propagation time.
Additionally, some registrars whois databases are not compatible with others. You may wish to use a
central whois lookup, as one registrar may not carry another's info.
Your best bet is always to look up a domain at the registrar of record. To find out who the registrar
is for a name, go to http://www.internic.net/whois.html.
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WHOIS DATABASES
WHOIS databases are specific to each registrar. If you registered the name properly, it will show in
our WHOIS database immediately. It will show in the InterNIC central database 24-48 hours later, but
might not ever display in another registrar's database. That doesn't mean someone else can register
the name, the name record is still taken, but it might not show you as the
owner.
Your best bet is always to look up a domain at the registrar of
record. To find out who the registrar is for a name, go to
http://www.internic.net/whois.html.
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EXPIRED DOMAINS
Domains that expire at DotDealers are released after their term expires. Please remember when
looking at a domain's expiration date that the format is Month/Day/Year- MM/DD/YEAR.
Domains that expire at another registrar are subject to their own policies. They do vary from
registrar to registrar, however, there are some consistencies.
There is usually a grace period, and then a period when the domain is "on hold"- where nobody can do
anything with it.
Generally, you will need to give a domain at least 30 days from the time of expiration to be
released. You cannot put in any kind of "pre-claim" on the name. You'll have to wait until it is
released by the registrar, and then register it manually. Lately, Network Solutions has adopted the
policy of not releasing domain names. If a name expires at Network Solutions, they will require it to
be re-registered at
NSI.
For a registrar's specific release policy, you should contact the registrar that owns the name. You
can find out who is the registrar for a specific name by entering the name into the central database
search engine at http://www.internic.net/whois.html.
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