Hostmaster has banned users from registering NIC-HANDLES.

Hostmaster has banned users from registering NIC-HANDLES. Only registrars are now authorized to register these identifiers.

Hostmaster explains its decision by citing a distributed denial-of-service attack targeting NIC-HANDLES and free domains. For this reason, the NIC-HANDLES web registration form is temporarily closed to unauthorized visitors.

The registrar can register a NIC-HANDLE by logging in to the website, or via RRP or email (the "PERSON ADD" command).

Due to a distributed denial of service attack, Hostmaster removed several domains registered between March 1 and 3, including ivano-frankivsk.ua, if.ua, kherson.ua, ks.ua, rv.ua, and poltava.ua.

Due to the increasing use of free domains with automatic registration (if.ua, ks.ua, poltava, rv.ua, etc.) for fast-flux and botnet attacks, Hostmaster reports that it is considering introducing measures to tighten automatic domain registration. The registration procedure for registrars remains unchanged.