Hello! Could you please advise me on what to do in my current situation? I forgot to renew my domain, and unfortunately, it was hijacked. However, I still have all of the files.

As far as I understand, if I register a new domain and upload all of the files onto the database, the website traffic should be restored. But I am unsure whether this is the correct solution for my problem. Can you please guide me through the steps that I should take?

Also, it seems that the new owner of the domain is unresponsive. Do you have any advice on how I could handle this situation if I am unable to contact them?

In the event that he duplicates the website on the web-archive, there may or may not be consequences while you are still contemplating your next steps. However, it is important to note that he will still be able to divert traffic from the original website.

Technically speaking, the duplicated site might be perceived as legitimate by some users, while others may recognize it as a copy. It is a 50/50 scenario, and caution should be exercised to avoid any further loss of traffic or infringement of rights.

It is essential to be aware of the potential risks and consequences of website duplication and to take appropriate measures to protect one's digital assets. Additionally, implementing measures such as regular backups and monitoring for suspicious activity can help mitigate the impact of such situations.

If he does not sell it back to you, the domain will not return.
If he turns the site around, you lose everything.
If he took the domain for his own purposes, then try to deploy on the new domain, and check with Google / Yandex about this incident.

Is the domain valuable? Was there traffic to the site? If not, then forget it and make a new one.
If the new owner does not get in touch, it is unlikely you will return it.

For the future: be sure to install auto-renewal. 

Hello. I think it was big mistake and you can't do nothing with listing your traffic I mean. It's a new way to make business again with new similar domain name. Of course, new owner will not return nothing, it's not useful for him/her.

Buy on specialized websites for a period of one year. Then do not miss the moment and extend the validity period. this is both beneficial and the preservation of the domain.

It is important to note that while international domain names can be registered as far as ten years in advance, national domains are currently limited to just one year.

Once a domain is registered, it will be deactivated for a period of 30 days during which a "screen saver" will be displayed indicating the domain's non-renewal status and email services may also be disrupted. Any extended downtime will be noticeable to visitors and users alike.

During this time, the domain name administrator still has the option to renew its registration. In contrast, international domains are automatically shut down after this grace period, and can only be restored at a significantly higher renewal cost (usually between x10-x100), or even be deleted altogether or transferred to an open auction.

It is important to carefully consider the length of time for which a domain is registered, given the differing policies and practices for international and national domains. Additionally, it is advisable to stay vigilant of renewal periods and ensure that the necessary steps are taken to prevent any unwanted deactivation of domains.