The wider world · 75 / 86
Name services
A name service points a human name at an address. The name can be stolen, expire, or point somewhere you did not check. The name is not the address.
The pointer
You pay to rent the name. If you forget the renewal, someone else can take it and receive what people meant for you.
Theft
Phishing sites ask you to sign a change of the name. A support account offers to fix it. The signature was the theft.
Send a small test if the amount matters. Read the address, not only the name.
Check yourself
Is a familiar name proof of the right recipient?
No. Names expire and get repointed. Read the address.
After this you can check the address under the name, and the renewal date, before you rely on it.
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