How to Do Domain Name Masking

What is domain masking?

A domain is a website name, like example.com. With masking (also called URL forwarding with cloaking), a visitor types one name. The page loads from a different address, but the browser still shows the first name.

For example, your site lives at a long address on a free site builder. You want people to see mybrand.com in the bar instead.

Know the limits

• Masking usually works with a frame. A frame puts another web page inside your page, like a picture frame holds a photo.
• Some sites do not allow being framed, so the page may show blank.
• The address in the bar stays the same on every page. Visitors cannot bookmark or share inner pages.
• It can hurt search results and does not work well on phones.

If you can, a better way is to point your domain straight to the site. Use an A record or a CNAME. Or set a normal redirect.

Way 1: Use the forwarding tool of your domain panel

1. Log in to where your domain is managed. For a Hostvento domain, use https://secure.hostvento.com/clientarea.php.
2. Open Domains, then My Domains, then Manage Domain.
3. Look for an option such as URL forwarding or Domain forwarding. Not every plan has it, so ask Hostvento support if you cannot see it.
4. Type the target address in the box.
5. Choose the type with masking (cloak/frame), not the plain redirect.
6. Save.

Way 2: Make a framed page yourself

1. Log in to cPanel and open File Manager.
2. Go to the folder of your domain, usually public_html.
3. Create a file named index.html.
4. Put this code in it, and use your real target address:

   <html>
   <head><title>My Brand</title></head>
   <body style="margin:0">
   <iframe src="https://target.example.net" style="border:0;width:100%;height:100vh"></iframe>
   </body>
   </html>

   This code shows the target page in one big frame.
5. Save the file and open your domain.

Back up any existing index.html first, because this step replaces it.

Quick recap

• Masking keeps your domain name in the address bar.
• It works by putting the real page in a frame.
• It has limits for search, sharing and phones.
• Prefer pointing the domain properly when you can.