[bmelton]

As I just posted elsewhere in this thread -- the "go to the domain" idea is also flawed, in that ISPs sell that information to would-be domain squatters as well.

It's perhaps slower than losing it to a registrar, but it's no safer.

[ffumarola]

What is the safe way? I genuinely am interested so I know how to proceed in the future.

I've NEVER had a domain snagged from me by going directly to the domain (even when I wound up registering it a week or two later). I've had a domain taken from me multiple times by the domain registration sites... sometimes within a few hours.

[bricestacey]

If the domain is for sale, visiting the page will bump its value.

You should just query the WHOIS database. At least, that's what I do.

[bmelton]

I'm not saying that all registrars or evil, or that all ISPs are; but not knowing which to trust, I go with the one organization that has decried the practice as evil and sworn never to do it -- whois.sc.

I'm sure there are other ethical registrars / ISPs as well, I just don't know of any.