Transferring a domain from one company to another traditionally entails the use of a unique domain authorization code, which different companies call an EPP key, a domain password or an AuthInfo code. This code can be used as a protection mechanism against unsanctioned transfers with all generic and with most country-code extensions. It can be obtained only by the domain registrant and is issued by the present domain name registrar company. It must be given to the new registrar company because the transfer process cannot be started without it. The code is case-sensitive and normally includes numbers and special characters, so as to impede unauthorized individuals from hijacking it. Certain registrars even change the codes of domain names registered through them after a certain amount of time for greater safety.