EstDomains

{{short description|Former website hosting provider from Estonia}}

File:EstDomainslogo.PNG

EstDomains was a website hosting provider and a Delaware corporation headquartered in downtown Tartu, Estonia.{{cite web|last=Krebs |first=Brian |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/09/estdomains_a_sordid_history_an.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717164143/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/09/estdomains_a_sordid_history_an.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |title=Security Fix - EstDomains: A Sordid History and a Storied CEO |publisher=Voices.washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-14}}{{cite web |url=http://www.estdomains.com/anacreon/servlet/ShowSplashPageServlet?&type=contactus&redirectpage=/servlet/ShowSplashPageServlet?%26type%3dcontactus |date=2006-03-25 |accessdate=2012-02-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060325162522/http://www.estdomains.com/anacreon/servlet/ShowSplashPageServlet?&type=contactus&redirectpage=%2Fservlet%2FShowSplashPageServlet%3F%26type%3Dcontactus |archivedate=March 25, 2006 |title=Welcome }}{{cite web|url=http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001522.html |title=Case EstDomains - F-Secure Weblog : News from the Lab |publisher=F-secure.com |date=2008-10-29 |accessdate=2012-02-14}} EstDomains was known for hosting websites with malware, child pornography, and other illegal content.{{cite web|last=Krebs |first=Brian |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/09/estdomains.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717211824/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/09/estdomains.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |title=Security Fix - A Superlative Scam and Spam Site Registrar |publisher=Voices.washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-14}} Brian Krebs of The Washington Post stated that EstDomains "appeared to be the registrar of choice for the infamous Russian Business Network." EstDomains was one of the largest domain registrars in the world. By 2007 EstDomains gained a reputation for hosting illegal content.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/129761/russian-spam-murder-spins-web-hoax |title=Russian spam murder spins web hoax | News |publisher=PC Pro |date=2007-10-12 |accessdate=2013-03-08 |archive-date=2012-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302213506/http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/129761/russian-spam-murder-spins-web-hoax |url-status=dead }}

The CEO, Vladimir Tšaštšin (also known as "SCR"), received a prison sentence for credit card fraud, document forgery, and money laundering. His conviction occurred on 6 February 2008.{{cite web |author=birumut |url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2089 |title=Cybercrime friendly EstDomains loses ICANN registrar accreditation |publisher=ZDNet |date= |access-date=2012-02-14 |archive-date=2008-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202141629/http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2089 |url-status=dead }} On 28 October 2008, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced that it would revoke the accreditation of EstDomains because of the CEO's convictions; the revocation would occur on 12 November 2008.{{cite web|last=Krebs |first=Brian |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/10/icann_de-accredits_estdomains.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516023614/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/10/icann_de-accredits_estdomains.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 16, 2011 |title=Security Fix - ICANN De-Accredits EstDomains for CEO's Fraud Convictions |publisher=Voices.washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-14}}{{cite web|url=http://www.icann.org/correspondence/burnette-to-tsastsin-28oct08-en.pdf |title=Notice of Termination of Icann Registrar Accreditation Agreement |publisher=Icann.org |accessdate=2013-08-11}} On 29 October ICANN said it would delay shutting down EstDomains, pending a review. EstDomains said that Tšaštšin had resigned in June of that year and that his conviction is on appeal,{{cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/153042/icann_delays_shutting_down_spammy_estonian_registrar.html |title=ICANN Delays Shutting Down Spammy Estonian Registrar | PCWorld Business Center |publisher=Pcworld.com |date=2012-02-10 |accessdate=2012-02-14}} while EstDomains had not notified ICANN of the change. On 12 November 2008 ICANN announced that EstDomains would be shut down on 24 November 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-12nov08-en.htm |title=Termination of Registrar EstDomains to Go Ahead |publisher=ICANN |date= |accessdate=2012-02-14}} According to ICANN, when the accreditation was terminated, EstDomains had 281,000 domain names. On Tuesday 25 November 2008 web host ResellerClub announced that it is taking over EstDomains's business.{{cite web|url=http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/resellerclub-to-take-over-estdomains |title=ResellerClub to Take Over EstDomains; The Web Host Industry Review |publisher=Thewhir.com |date=2008-11-25 |accessdate=2014-06-17}}

Iain Thompson of Australian PC Authority ranked Tšaštšin as the tenth-worst technology business chief executive.{{cite web|url=http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/129204,top-10-worst-chief-executives.aspx |title=Top 10 worst chief executives - News - PC & Tech Authority |publisher=Pcauthority.com.au |date=2008-11-24 |accessdate=2012-02-14}}