.TK Domains
Hey guys, I figured I would take the time to introduce you to a domain extension I am sure you are already familiar with. If you weren't born yesterday, you have been exposed to .tk domains in the past. I will try my best to explain them, and also expose you to why it is important to avoid them.
Why do I need to avoid them?
As a webmaster, it is important to avoid them because they represent a rather untamed area of the internet. This free domain extension is often used by phishing websites and other illegal websites to trick people into clicking them. At the same time, if you come across a website with this domain extension, it is important to be cautious when accessing it. Naturally, the best tip to help you avoid them is to use common sense. If you know it's a legit website, don't worry about them using a .tk domain extension.
Why is the .tk domain extension being used by phishing websites?
This domain extension is being used because they are free for everyone to use. It is a nice and easy way to cover a sketchy website with a short domain name that may appear harmless. You could be accessing a domain like "website-forums.tk," expecting to come across a webmaster forum, and then it ends up being some type of illegal website instead.
What does this have to do with being a forum owner?
Plenty of forum owners will find the .tk domain extension appealing, especially the younger ones who do not have the proper funds to buy a TLD. I admit that I was one of these people when I had my sports forum on ProBoards a few years ago. I had a super long domain (sportstimes.proboards.com), and .tk seemed like an awesome way to solve the problem of having an ugly sub-domain. If you own a forum on a free forum host, it's okay to be on a sub-domain. Try not to bother with the mess that surrounds the .tk domain extension. If you still desire your own domain name, it's typically better to go for the common TLDs: .com, .net, .org, or .info. So long as you are doing business with a legit domain registrar (NameCheap and GoDaddy are the common ones), the cost to own a domain with one of those extensions will be more than reasonable. Forum Promotion also offers domains for FP$, so if all else fails, you can go that route.
As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The .tk domain extension is no exception to this rule. Also, you get what you pay for, and there's a reason why all the other domain extensions have a fee attached to them.
Thank you for reading this, and I wish you all the best of luck with your websites.
