undefined | Better HN

0 pointsrwg13y ago0 comments

How?

I keep valid contact information in the WHOIS records for my domains, and all I get out of it is e-mail spam from my registrar, e-mail spam from everyone else, snail mail spam from my registrar, snail mail spam from competing registrars (Domain Registry of America, anyone?), "SELL YOUR DOMAIN TO US!" robocall spam, and yearly ICANN WDRP e-mails from my registrar.

0 comments

ersii13y ago

Because, according to ICANN rules - you may lose the right to your domain if the registrant information is falsified.

That's why they "spam" you once a year, reminding you to keep the registrant information up to date.

I have not heard of anyone losing their generic TLD in a random check, but the risk always exist.

damian200013y ago

You need an anonymized WHOIS service. Namecheap offers free anonymized WHOIS by default on their domains ... its called "WhoisGuard Protection". Its a must have these days.

garethadams13y ago

Yes, I want to be anonymous so I'll sign legal control of my domain over to a third party service (per their terms and conditions - http://www.whoisguard.com/registrant-agreement.asp):

• who you have to "provide […] truthful, complete, current, accurate and reliable contact details" to,

• who "has the right to disclose your identity and your other Personal Information" and

• who "may resolve any and all third party claims, whether threatened or made, arising out of your registration or use of the Domain"

Now for a lot of people who just don't want their name easily visible, that's fine because it's unlikely these terms will be acted on. But for anyone who actually needs anonymity, to protect their right to free speech (for example), that's not good enough.

dublinben13y ago

If you're looking to actually protect your anonymity when registering a domain, you ought to do so with your own privacy protecting corporation. Delaware corporations (any many offshore corporations) can be legally registered anonymously, which will keep your information off the whois information, without relying on a shaky 3rd party agreement.

clicks13y ago

> Namecheap offers free anonymized WHOIS by default on their domains ... its called "WhoisGuard Protection".

Free for just the first year after transferring/registering a domain, after that it costs you.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse