What is .cm TLD
.cm is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Cameroon, designating a namespace for entities with connections to the country. In practice, many registrars permit worldwide registration, so .cm domains appear across sectors and geographies, while .cm websites range from government and utilities to education, retail, and media. Within the global naming system, .cm sits near .com visually, which influences usage patterns, risk profiles, and defensive brand strategies. We track registration velocity, name composition, hosting locations, and DNS hygiene to understand how this extension is actually deployed. Our datasets help quantify typo-attracted traffic, detect misconfigurations, and benchmark .cm against neighboring ccTLDs and generic TLDs. Explore .cm domain datasets from webatla for granular, always-current coverage.
History and key features of .cm TLD
The .cm TLD emerged in the 1990s as part of the ISO‑3166 country-code allocations, with management and policies evolving as internet adoption expanded in Cameroon. Today, second‑level registrations are the norm, and some providers offer third‑level structures where supported. Feature-wise, .cm domains follow standard DNS, WHOIS/RDAP access, and UDRP‑style dispute channels; DNSSEC and IDN availability vary by registrar and integration. Because .cm closely resembles .com, historic attention has focused on typo‑related abuse and brand protection, leading to periodic policy adjustments and monitoring initiatives. We analyze lifecycle signals—creation spikes, renewal curves, nameserver churn, and hosting consolidation—to separate durable growth from transient activity among .cm websites. Analyze trends with .cm datasets from webatla to inform decisions.
Why and who choose the .cm domain
Organizations choose the .cm domain for several pragmatic reasons. Local companies and public institutions adopt .cm domains to signal Cameroonian identity, align with national regulations, and serve domestic audiences through .cm websites. Multinationals and brands use matched names for market localization and, importantly, defensive coverage against look‑alike risks. Publishers and investors assess direct‑navigation traffic potential, while security teams monitor the zone for misuse, fast‑flux hosting, or phishing infrastructure. We observe that outcomes depend on disciplined DNS configuration, reputable hosting, and consistent content strategies; without these, perceived benefits diminish. Using comparative baselines, we benchmark .cm against peer ccTLDs on stability and active‑use ratios. Access .cm domain datasets from webatla to evaluate patterns and risks.