Having a functioning website and domain is essential for the success of your business or non-profit organization. If you can’t access your website and/or domain to make updates and changes because someone is holding it hostage, then your business could suffer in the short and long run.
When you work with an IT consultant, virtual assistant, web designer, or web development agency, there is a small risk of them holding your website or domain hostage. While it may seem extreme, it is more common than you imagine.
In such cases, the developer or third party may refuse to release a domain, website access, or code, preventing the client from gaining control. Whether they are demanding more money or a client doesn’t understand the terms they agreed upon, this scenario can involve a lot of back-and-forth until both sides reach an agreement.
Rather than being blindsided, we are here to guide how to prevent this scenario and, if it’s too late, offer solutions to resolve the issue. As an experienced web development agency, we have tips on navigating this tricky situation.
What Does It Mean When Someone Holds a Website or Domain Hostage?
Describing a website as “held hostage” might seem dramatic, but it accurately conveys the situation where you can’t regain control of your domain or website. A third party, such as a virtual assistant or web designer, may demand additional payments or conditions in exchange for website access or codes. In some ways, this scenario is similar to a hostage situation.
A client won’t be able to access their website (or possibly the domain) or make updates and changes until they fulfill these conditions. Losing access to your domain can impact several aspects, including email accounts, web hosting accounts, website CMS administrator/login information, software licenses, and external accounts like Google My Business, Google Analytics, and social media pages. Over time, this situation can seriously harm a business as the website content becomes outdated, customers trying to reach the company online won’t receive a response, and SEO will suffer due to stale or incorrect content.
How to Get Your Website Back
If someone is holding your website or domain hostage, it may be possible to regain control. We understand this can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, so we are here to provide you with some steps to help. Here’s our guide on how to address each issue and reclaim your website.
- Identify the Problem. Start by assessing the situation to determine why this problem has happened. You will want to review relevant documents, like contracts, emails, or texts, with the developer. This review will help provide additional context and identify any potential breaches of the contract.
- Seek Legal Help. If you catch a possible breach of contract, then consult a legal professional for advice on moving forward. They can explore negotiation tactics to resolve disputes in a way that benefits you. Seeking legal guidance can help you navigate this complex situation while protecting your website and business.
- Technical Steps. In the meantime, you should work on regaining access to your hosting account and domain registrar. Reset any passwords and secure access points to prevent further unauthorized access. If your web developer is deleting information from your website and you have backups, then use them to restore your site to its previous state. Please note that all of the following website services may have separate logins:
- Domain Name (often a GoDaddy or Network Solutions login)
- DNS Hosting (often GoDaddy, Cloudflare, or DNS Made Easy)
- Website Hosting (hard to predict – could also be GoDaddy or Bluehost, Hostgator or WP Engine)
- WordPress Admin Login (assuming you have a WordPress website) – you could also have a Squarespace or Shopify website login (same idea)
- Email Admin Login (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoho Mail)
- Google Search Console Login
- Google Maps / Google My Business Login
- Social Media Accounts (Facebook, Instagram, X)
You are in trouble if you have lost access to all the services above. But, if you have yet to lose access to your WordPress or Squarespace website or GoDaddy (domain) account, please know there is hope. One of the first things you want to do is determine which logins and access are still working. Consider hiring a consultant to help walk you through this process. If you are a GoDaddy customer, then we encourage you to call their customer support team and leverage their online tools for recovering a lost account, such as https://changeupdate.com.
- Hire a Professional. If you struggle to regain full access to your accounts, then hire a website consultant or a new web developer. Since it is their expertise, they can assist you with technical steps, security measures, or building a new website from your backups. They will know the best options for your specific situation.
- Leave a Review. If you hired an unprofessional web developer, chances are this isn’t their first incident. Instead of paying them off and keeping quiet, write an online review on Google, Yelp, and social media platforms to warn other customers of your experience. By laying out the facts, you will provide valuable insight and highlight their lack of professionalism to other people online.
DNS Hosting
DNS Hosting is often the secret weapon to help rightful owners recover their domain, website, and email accounts. We recommend keeping your domain registration separate from your DNS Hosting. In other words, if you use GoDaddy to register your domain, then don’t also use GoDaddy for DNS Hosting. You don’t want to “put all your eggs in one basket.”
Suppose you lose access to your GoDaddy account (or other domain registrar login). In that case, you can sometimes use access to DNS Hosting to help recover your email accounts and then reset passwords so you can recover your other accounts. For DNS Hosting, we recommend DNS Made Easy and Cloudflare. If you have an IT company, we also recommend that they have their own DNS login for visibility and security purposes.
What to Include in Your Website Development Contract
When hiring a company, it’s essential to fully understand the terms of your agreement or web design contract. Ask all the necessary questions before signing anything because you are locked into your agreement once you sign. Sometimes, clients might need help to read the fine print and unknowingly agree to let the web development agency own the website code. This trickery can complicate the situation since, technically, the agency owns the website rather than the client.
Before signing a contract, ensure you have the company’s name and contact information to facilitate smooth communication throughout the entire process. Here are some additional parts to include in your contract:
- Ownership of Website Content and Code: Clarify who owns the website content and code.
- Administrator Access: Ensure you have administrator access to your CMS.
- Hosting Account: Have your hosting account with a separate login.
- Login Credentials: Access to the login URL, username, and password.
- Domain Ownership: Confirm ownership of your domain. You should always be careful when you grant access to your domain account, such as a GoDaddy or Network Solutions account.
- Termination Terms: Define what happens when your work relationship ends.
- Software List: A list of software used to create your website, including licenses and fees.
Watch the YouTube video below for more questions about asking a web designer before signing a contract.
3 Tips for Avoiding This Painful Situation
Aside from ensuring you have a contract with your web developer, there are other steps to avoid this situation. Here are our top three tips for avoiding a website hostage situation.
1. Find a Trustworthy Professional (Virtual Admin, Web Designer, etc)
To ensure you’re partnering with someone trustworthy, thoroughly research developers or agencies. Review their professional history, previous projects, websites, and online reviews. This research can show their dependability and work ethic. Trustworthy consultants and developers should be able to provide multiple references, certifications, memberships in professional organizations, or industry awards to prove their dedication to quality and expertise. Always do your research before providing logins to third parties.
2. Always Have a Website Backup
It’s always beneficial to have a complete and regular backup of your website in case of any issues, like a website hostage scenario. This precaution ensures your website is protected should it face a hostage situation. You can ensure files, databases, and configurations are fully backed up by scheduling regular backups. For WordPress users, plugins like UpdraftPlus and BackupBuddy automatically back up your website. You can use cloud solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3 for secure off-site storage.
3. Know Your Logins and Use Two-factor Authentication (2FA)
If you want your domain and website to be your own, you need access to your website code, hosting account, and domain name. Control over these components is crucial, allowing you to access your account. For these accounts, you should make sure that you use your email address, regularly update passwords to make them strong and unique, and enable two-factor authentication for critical accounts. Keep a detailed and secure record of all access details and update it whenever you make changes. We also recommend using Two-factor authentication (2FA). For example, when a third party wants to sign into your GoDaddy account, they will need to get a code from you (sent via text) to complete the login.
Signs of an Unprofessional Consultant or Web Developer
Nobody wants to hire an unprofessional consultant or web developer, but it can happen when you ignore the red flags. Many web developers may make big promises and have grand ideas for growing your business online. While this sounds appealing, these promises become empty and deceitful without follow-through. To spot an unprofessional web developer, look for the following signs:
- Doesn’t provide a formal estimate or contract.
- Negative online reviews from past clients.
- Difficulty finding portfolio examples on their website.
- Avoids clear communication about the overall cost of your project or project status.
- Hesitant to share login information, backups, or account information.
- A sudden increase in cost or additional fees outside the initial agreement.
Professional Web Development Team Based in Tampa Bay | Websults
A website or domain hostage situation is certainly a headache to deal with. As a web development agency, we aim to provide our clients with the best web design services and educate them on the process. We ensure open communication and work closely with our clients to guarantee the project is exactly what they want. If you are currently unsatisfied with your current web design or your website is being held hostage, reach out to us so we can help.
Websults wants to help you have the best experience in web design, hosting, SEO, and digital marketing. As an experienced web development, SEO, and web hosting agency, Websults will listen to your needs, ask questions to help identify opportunities, and work hard to give you a competitive advantage in your industry. Contact Websults for a free website consultation.
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