[alexjawad]

In that case, it's outrageous! What provider should one use to securely search for available domain names?

[sagacity]

Here is the 'mothership' - I guess your searches should be as secure as they can be:

http://internic.net/whois.html

[From site footer:

InterNIC is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is licensed to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which operates this web site.]

[brk]

I use whois from a command prompt. Most of my registrations are done through enom. I avoid GoDaddy at all costs.

[euroclydon]

Whatever WHOIS server your network resolves is not necessarily on the up and up either.

[alexjawad]

That's good advice. Thanks very much!

[bmelton]

whois.sc is the registrar that initially pointed out the 'domain name front running' practice to me, and advertises that they find it deplorable, and definitely don't do it.

I generally use them when I'm trying to iron down what domain I actually want, and don't hit a registrar until I've got credit card in hand, and am ready to buy.

According to the article they posted, ISPs also sell reports of popular mis-typed domains to would-be squatters as well. So in addition to avoiding most registrars, you should also avoid the popular urge of 'just type the url into your address bar' method of seeing if a domain is taken.