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No one can technically 'steal' the name from you, but unscrupulous registrars are getting better and better at 'tricking' people into releasing the name, or moving it to a new registrar.
A lot of domain owners don't actually know what's involved in domain registration, and they don't remember who they are registered with because someone else set the name up for them. So bad registrars will send domain owners notices that the name is expiring, and it must be renewed and transfered into their registration system. Confused and panicked owners will click links and agree to this, because they don't know any better. The domain then gets transfered to another registrar, who later tries to charge big renewal fees, etc.
If the domain is locked, there is no way a transfer can take place, even if you agree to it and respond to an email authorizing the transfer. You have to literally go to your registrar and unlock the domain yourself, or it won't go through. Having to go unlock it reminds you of who you are registered with, and prevents you from doing something 'accidentally' - you have to know what you are doing in order to unlock it. Most registrars now also require the input of an auth code before a transfer can take place, another level of protection.
I haven't heard of any private individuals that have been pulling these schemes, just registrars. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has heard of this being done by individuals.
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