The Nightmare Scenario
You wake up. Your website is gone. Your email doesn't work. Someone has transferred your domain to a distinct registrar in Russia. This happens to thousands of businesses every year.
1. Registrar Lock
Ensure "Transfer Lock" or "Registrar Lock" is ALWAYS enabled on your domain settings. This prevents unauthorized transfer requests from initiating.
2. Use Hardware 2FA
SMS 2FA is hackable via SIM swapping. Use an Authenticator App (Authy, Google Auth) or better yet, a hardware key (YubiKey) to secure your registrar account.
3. Privacy Protection
Enable WHOIS Privacy. It stops hackers from finding your personal email and phishing you with fake "Domain Expiry" notices.
4. Use Enterprise Registrars
For high-value domains, consider enterprise-grade registrars (like MarkMonitor or CSC) or at least reputable consumer ones (Namecheap, Google Domains, Namesilo). Avoid "cheap" flywheel registrars.