Key takeaways:
- Domain Privacy + Protection hides your personal information in the public WHOIS database to keep it away from public view.
- Data has become increasingly valuable, and cybercriminals are now actively searching for it with malicious intent.
- Hackers often exploit the public WHOIS database to find company data, but you can block this with domain privacy protection.
When you register a domain name for your website, your personal contact details are published in the public WHOIS database; the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for this. Anyone can look up your details by then, and you become open to potential spam and cyberattacks.
But with Domain Privacy + Protection, you can keep your sensitive information out of public view. Instead of showing your real details, it replaces your data with proxy records, effectively protecting you from malicious elements.
For individuals and small businesses alike, privacy protection helps reduce spam, identity theft attempts, and cyberattacks. In this guide, we’ll discuss why you might need it, how it can help you, and how you can effectively apply it to your website.
What is Domain Privacy + Protection?
When individuals register a domain name, their personal data—like name, address, phone number, and Internet Protocol (IP)—is stored in the WHOIS database. These domain names are regulated under the supervision of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Since the WHOIS database is public, domain hijackers can also access the database and find your private, personal data. Domain privacy protection, a service offered by domain registrars, keeps personal data in the WHOIS records confidential and protects it from unauthorized access.
Importance of a WHOIS Lookup
A WHOIS lookup allows anyone to search the public WHOIS database for specific information about a domain name. Such information includes the current registrant, the registrant’s personal details, and the expiration date.
When a domain name is entered into a WHOIS directory search bar, a request is dispatched to the domain’s registrar or registry, which retrieves and displays the corresponding record. Unfortunately, cybercriminals will try to access this information and use it in online attacks, launching data breaches, and gathering additional personal information.
Why you need Domain Privacy + Protection
While domain registrars usually include the service with their packages, individuals should still check if it’s present. By ensuring the service is running for your website, you can help:
- Protect your personal information
- Mitigate scams and spam
- Prevent people from selling your personal information
- Thwart competitive espionage
- Prevent unwanted internet traffic
Protect your personal information
Domain privacy protection safeguards your personal and sensitive data, including your organization’s addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and other data in the WHOIS system. It prevents hackers from exploiting your public information for their malicious activities.
Mitigate scams and spam
By shielding your phone numbers and email information, you can reduce recurrences of email phishing, where hackers trick employees into opening fraudulent emails and prevent unwanted solicitations via calls and emails.
Prevent people from selling your personal information
Some people scan the WHOIS database for data they can potentially distribute to marketers and organizations, which can result in unwanted emails or texts. Without domain privacy protection, the risk of your personal data being harvested and sold to third-party vendors becomes higher.
Thwart competitive espionage
Competitors may use WHOIS data to spy on other businesses to undermine their unique advantages and seize market share. But with domain protection, you can prevent competitors from accessing sensitive and proprietary data.
Prevent unwanted internet traffic
Not all site traffic is useful for businesses; some may be stalkers or hackers with malicious intent. But by keeping your domain information private, you can greatly reduce unwanted traffic, especially unauthorized or non-business-related visits.
To protect your data privacy, what you need are domain privacy and protection services. Domain registrars, like Network Solutions, have these services under their roof to keep your sensitive data away from malicious elements. And we make it simple for you to get Domain Privacy + Protection; all with just one click when you register or renew your domain.
Here’s a quick comparison when you avail Network Solutions’ domain privacy services and when you don’t:
| Without privacy | With Network Solutions Domain Privacy + Protection |
|---|---|
| Competitors can see your registration data | Business information stays private |
| High spam and scam risk | Spam and phishing reduced |
| Personal address exposed | Home or office details remain protected |
Whether you’re running a small business or a personal website, it helps protect your information while still allowing legitimate contacts to reach you.
Cases where Domain Privacy + Protection may not apply
Domain Privacy + Protection is a smart choice for most domain owners in terms of identity security. However, there are a few cases where it may not be available or necessary:
- Certain country-code domains (ccTLDs). Some domains, like .us (United States), .au (Australia), and .in (India), legally require domain registrant information to remain public. For these extensions, you’re not allowed to use privacy protection.
- Business transparency requirements. Some organizations, like regulated businesses or nonprofits, may choose to keep WHOIS records public for added accountability and legitimacy.
- Already protected by regulation. In some regions, privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) automatically limit how much registrant data is displayed publicly. The law reduces, but does not eliminate, the need for domain privacy services.
But even if your case falls under these conditions, it’s still worth noting the risks of publicizing information and exploring other security measures for your online presence.
Stay ahead of security threats with additional protection
Getting Domain Privacy + Protection services keeps your personal data safe from malicious elements and competitors. But it’s always good practice to add another level of protection like SiteLock, so you remain proactively protected against suspicious activities.
Here are ways that SiteLock can help protect your site further:
- Daily malware scanning. Do advanced security scans that inspect websites for malware, viruses, and other malicious code. As you scan, you’ll get immediate alerts when threats come up, giving you more time to resolve them.
- Blacklist monitoring. Regularly monitor your website’s IP address connections with search engines or security blacklists. You’ll be notified right away when your website is blacklisted, so you can correct it immediately.
- SMS domain alerts. Real-time SMS updates on your domain keep you informed about suspicious activities, unauthorized domain modifications, or potential security threats.
With Network Solutions’ Domain Privacy + Protection and SiteLock services, you can rest assured that your personal data is safe and your site is protected from cyberthreats.
Frequently asked questions
Domain privacy protection services keep your sensitive information out of public view. It replaces your data with proxy records, instead of showing your actual details in the WHOIS database.
Yes, but it won’t be through the public WHOIS database. Domain privacy services will replace your personal contact information with a substitute, often an anonymous email address or a forwarding service. Legitimate inquiries can still reach you.
Domain privacy is not usually required by law. However, depending on data privacy regulations like GDPR, there might be requirements to protect personal data, and domain privacy can help you comply with that.
Network Solutions offers Domain Privacy + Protection as an addition when you register a domain. To enable it, you can add it to your domain registration or renewal through your Network Solutions account.
Domain Privacy + Protection hides your personal information from the public WHOIS database, like address, phone number, domain name, email, and internet protocol (IP) address.
Domain Privacy + Protection is typically a service you need to renew. Contact Network Solutions customer support or check your account details for specific renewal information and pricing.
Your website needs domain privacy to protect your data from public exposure and misuse by scammers, spammers, and identity thieves.
Without Domain Privacy + Protection, your personal information in the WHOIS database is open to unauthorized access. You’ll be at more risk for personal information theft, scams, spam, and other malicious activities.
Get complete domain privacy and protection with Network Solutions
With a long history of safely registering business domain names, Network Solutions offers Domain Privacy + Protection to safeguard your personal information from spammers, telemarketers, and bots.
You can now stay ahead and worry less about malicious actors, malware, blacklisting, and unauthorized domain changes. Plus, you can also benefit from our easy-to-use DIY web builders and trusted web hosting services.
