Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

newmark · 06-04-2011, 03:23 PM

I recently reserved some domain names and my personal details are now on whois for everyone to see. I was given the option, by cheap-registrar.com, to hide them at extra cost. Not so much, but I just assumed I could do this myself, so I didn't bother. Now I can't find any way to hide the details.

If I have to spend more money, so be it. But, do you know if it is possible for me to change the settings at whois myself, or do I have to do this through the company I bought the domain names with?

Brutha · 06-04-2011, 03:37 PM

Whois isn't private and all the information that released into the whois registry stays there forever. Even if the ownership of the domain changes you can still look up the information of the old owner.

The Whois registry shows who owns a website. It doesn't have a setting to make an entry private.
If you don't want to be listed in it another person has to register the domain on your behalf and put it's name into the Whois registry.
Companies that provided you with "Whois privacy" serve that function.

newmark · 06-04-2011, 03:43 PM

But I already have a website (using SBI) and they have concealed the personal information, such as address, email, telephone etc.

I only wish to hide these details.

ragtag · 06-06-2011, 07:29 PM

A number of hosting companies, such as DreamHost, offer to hide the whois information for public view. Instead of your name, the whois infor for your domain will contain DreamHost's contact info. I'm sure other companies offer the same service.

danthony · 06-06-2011, 11:52 PM

Godaddy definitely offers private details for hosting. I've done it a number of times but only worth it if you don't want spam, unsolicited offers e.t.c. Just register your email with an email you check less.

Brutha · 06-07-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

But I already have a website (using SBI) and they have concealed the personal information, such as address, email, telephone etc.

That means that the ownership is registered with SBI.

newmark · 06-08-2011, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brutha

That means that the ownership is registered with SBI.

No, I wasn't clear enough. I have a website with SBI and they hide the personal info for me. I also have reserved a few other URL's and just thought I could hide the personal information myself by going to whois.com - which now, it seems, I can't.

poika · 06-08-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newmark

No, I wasn't clear enough. I have a website with SBI and they hide the personal info for me. I also have reserved a few other URL's and just thought I could hide the personal information myself by going to whois.com - which now, it seems, I can't.

i'm afraid you cannot hide it yourself. i believe the only way to set domain privacy on/off is through your registrar's control panel and this cannot be done using any external site such as whois.com.

some registrars charge a small fee for the domain privacy, others offer it for free (however in those cases domain names themselves are likely to cost a bit higher). in my opinion $2-$4 privacy fee is quite reasonable. if a registrar charges more than that then why not search for another one

you can order domain privacy at any time, so i suggest you ask your provider how to do that (or even look for this option in your control panel).

Tarzansjane · 06-09-2011, 02:40 PM

Hi Newmark

I believe this is possible. Please contact SBI support. If it's possible, they can tell you how to get it done.

Dimitri · 06-12-2011, 09:48 PM

Mark, you will not be able to hide your personal details independently. That power rests with your registar -- whichever company you used to purchase your domain name. Most registars allow you to hide the information at an extra cost. Some include it at no extra charge, such as NetFirms. Inquire about WhoIs privacy to the support staff of your registar and they will help you out.

The only way to take the situation into your own hands is to change the details to fake names and addresses. This is not permitted by most registars. When you purchase WhoIs privacy, the registars simply replace your personal information with their information. So essentially, you are paying for the right to have someone else's details show up in place of yours.

sujith · 07-29-2011, 01:55 PM

It depends on whether they have private registration or not. But an easy way to get a contact is go to whoisxy... Type in the domain name (e.g. domain name.com) and you will get a list of contact information so long as the information has not been restricted by the site owner.

RED COMPASS · 07-30-2011, 02:33 AM

There is always a digital trail somewhere.

06-04-2011, 03:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
newmark Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Taiwan Posts: 683	whois privacy I recently reserved some domain names and my personal details are now on whois for everyone to see. I was given the option, by cheap-registrar.com, to hide them at extra cost. Not so much, but I just assumed I could do this myself, so I didn't bother. Now I can't find any way to hide the details. If I have to spend more money, so be it. But, do you know if it is possible for me to change the settings at whois myself, or do I have to do this through the company I bought the domain names with?

07-29-2011, 01:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
sujith Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 3	It depends on whether they have private registration or not. But an easy way to get a contact is go to whoisxy... Type in the domain name (e.g. domain name.com) and you will get a list of contact information so long as the information has not been restricted by the site owner. Last edited by sujith; 07-30-2011 at 05:15 AM.

07-30-2011, 02:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
RED COMPASS Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Level 9 of the Globe Posts: 23	Note There is always a digital trail somewhere.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Does anyone really keep privacy online anymore?	SimpleSky	Social & Relationships	10	02-05-2011 07:42 PM
Online secure browsing and privacy	bluedragon	World Affairs	27	03-16-2010 01:53 AM
Facebook - Changes to Privacy	CoolBee	Technology & Technical Skills	22	12-23-2009 01:07 PM
Privacy in a Public Blog	The Unconquered	Business & Financial	21	12-17-2009 06:05 AM

06-04-2011, 03:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brutha Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Berlin, Germany Posts: 8,749	Whois isn't private and all the information that released into the whois registry stays there forever. Even if the ownership of the domain changes you can still look up the information of the old owner. The Whois registry shows who owns a website. It doesn't have a setting to make an entry private. If you don't want to be listed in it another person has to register the domain on your behalf and put it's name into the Whois registry. Companies that provided you with "Whois privacy" serve that function.

06-04-2011, 03:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
newmark Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Taiwan Posts: 683	But I already have a website (using SBI) and they have concealed the personal information, such as address, email, telephone etc. I only wish to hide these details.

06-06-2011, 07:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
ragtag Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 326	A number of hosting companies, such as DreamHost, offer to hide the whois information for public view. Instead of your name, the whois infor for your domain will contain DreamHost's contact info. I'm sure other companies offer the same service.

06-06-2011, 11:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
danthony Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 426	Godaddy definitely offers private details for hosting. I've done it a number of times but only worth it if you don't want spam, unsolicited offers e.t.c. Just register your email with an email you check less.

06-09-2011, 02:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tarzansjane Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 40	Hi Newmark I believe this is possible. Please contact SBI support. If it's possible, they can tell you how to get it done.

06-12-2011, 09:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dimitri Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 55	Mark, you will not be able to hide your personal details independently. That power rests with your registar -- whichever company you used to purchase your domain name. Most registars allow you to hide the information at an extra cost. Some include it at no extra charge, such as NetFirms. Inquire about WhoIs privacy to the support staff of your registar and they will help you out. The only way to take the situation into your own hands is to change the details to fake names and addresses. This is not permitted by most registars. When you purchase WhoIs privacy, the registars simply replace your personal information with their information. So essentially, you are paying for the right to have someone else's details show up in place of yours.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums