A Safe Namespace
As guardians of .UK, it’s our duty to ensure the security and protection of .UK for everyone who relies on it.
In 2023, we helped to suspend over 1,000 domains for criminal activity under our Criminal Practices Policy.
Through our vital work, we help keep the digital economy running smoothly, while protecting unsuspecting users from harm.
Technology for Good
Domain Watch
Domain Watch is our free anti-phishing service, which enhances security across the .UK ecosystem and protects end users from malicious activity.
It combines technical algorithms with manual intervention to automatically suspend potentially malicious domains.
When a domain is suspended, we notify the registrar and email the registrant explaining next steps. We may lift suspensions if the registrant can demonstrate legitimate use.
Domain Health
Domain Health is a free service that helps .UK registrars combat cybercrime.
If any of the domains you manage as a registrar become associated with spam, phishing, malware or botnet activity, we’ll proactively alert you via email and provide practical advice to address the issue.
You can monitor your domain health at any time using our Online Services portal.
Domain Lock
Our Domain Lock service is an optional, chargeable service which adds an extra layer of protection at the registry level for peace of mind.
As its name suggests, Domain Lock prevents unauthorised domain changes to protect against DNS hijacking.
Only a pre-authorised representative can lock and unlock domains using Multi-Factor Authentication.
If you’re a registrar, you can find out more about our Domain Watch, Domain Health and Domain Lock services on Registrar Resources.
Alternatively, if you’re a UK business owner, please contact your registrar.
Fighting Online Crime
As a responsible registry and public benefit company, we’re committed to keeping .UK safe for all users. That’s why we work closely with law enforcement agencies like the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Ministry of Defence Police (MOD) to put a stop to domain abuse.
We also collaborate with regulatory bodies including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Trading Standards and Ofcom to fulfil our role as guardians of .UK.
Criminal Activity Reports
Each year, we produce an update on .UK domains suspended for criminal activity.
Previous Reports
Criminal Activity Report November 2021 – October 2022
Criminal Activity Report November 2020 – October 2021
Criminal Activity Report November 2019 – October 2020
Criminal Activity Report November 2018 – October 2019
Criminal Activity Report November 2017 – October 2018
Criminal Activity Report November 2016 – October 2017
Criminal Activity Report November 2015 – October 2016
Criminal Activity Report November 2014 – October 2015
Criminal Activity Report May 2014 – October 2014
How to report abusive usage of a domain
Domain names used in connection with criminal activity process
Domain names used in connection with criminal activity Process
At this current time Nominet doesn’t have the authority to delete or suspend a .UK domain name except where specified in our registration terms and conditions. This agreement does expressly prohibit any .UK domains being used for any unlawful purpose. If you believe that you have discovered a .UK domain that is being used for an unlawful purpose, we recommend that you take one of these steps:
- Contact the registrar associated with the domain. You can find the registrar for .UK domains by performing a search using our domain lookup tool.
- Contact the police. If you believe that the activities on the domain are so serious that it is urgent to get it shut down, you should contact the police. We can suspend a domain name when alerted to its use for criminal activity by the police or other law enforcement agencies. You should report the domain to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and internet crime reporting centre at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/. You may at the same time consider whether to inform the domain name holder that you have contacted the police.
- Interim court order. If it is very urgent to get the domain name shut down, it is possible to get an interim court order. This is a legal action which is used to avoid damages or inconvenience until a legally binding court decision is made, something that usually takes a long time. If the website is operating illegally, we strongly recommend that you also contact the police.
If you have any other questions or need further advice please email abuse@nominet.uk.