Website cloning is when your website is duplicated and set up on a completely different domain name. It is an exact copy of your website that is been ripped from the internet without your knowledge or consent.

How do I find out if my website has been cloned?

The easiest way to do this is to copy a sentence from your website and enter it into a Google search. If your exact sentence comes up in the search results click the link to see if it is a copy of your website.

What should I do if my website has been cloned?

You need to get in touch with the hosting provider for the cloned website and send them a ‘Cease and Desist’ letter. Cease and desist (C & D) is a technical term for the letter that details the problem. It is a request to halt an activity or face legal action.

The hosting provider has to investigate the problem by law, by getting into contact with the third party and giving 30 days to respond before the website is closed down.

How do I find out who the hosting provider is?

To find out who the hosting provider is firstly note down the URL of the cloned website e.g www.yourdomainname.co.uk and then look up the domain name using a WHOIS search. There are lots of WHOIS lookup facilities online just Google ‘WHOIS’ Example: http://www.whois-search.com. Using the results of the WHOIS information send the Cease and Desist letter.

How can I stop my website being cloned?

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about website cloning. You just have to be vigilant.