I stumbled across this FBI training resource the other day, (Lawful Access to Secure Messaging Apps Data)[https://propertyofthepeople.org/document-detail/?doc-id=21114562], and was wondering if some domain registrars were more private/secure than others. I know that generally buying domain names is not very private or secure, but are some registrars better than others?
Ask HN: Secure Domain Name Registrars? | Better HN
10 years ago I once purchased a domain from a provider who only needed an email address and cash in an envelope (among other payment methods, I used paypal). The website and everything around it was shady but I thought for privacy I'll try. A couple of years later they demanded a copy of my passport to cancel. Renewing (giving them more money) was apparently fine, but cancelling required a passport. I let the domain expire and although it was empty immediately the domain parked, luckily a year later released again. I'm not naming the registrar, it was a bad experience overall. I'm sure there's still some registrars like this around.
It's plausible that they set higher id requirements for cancelling because some random person renewing doesn't harm the domain owner, but cancelling may cause a lot of harm.
My experience is, from watching some domains, and my own ones; almost every registrar now keeps the domain for 1 year. Some put a parking page, some just update the whois to reflect that domain can be bought.
