What is Domain Privacy and Protection
Domain privacy is a service that keeps personal information, like your name, address, phone number, and email, hidden from the public domain records associated with your website. These records are entered to the publicly accessible WHOIS database when you register a domain.
Every domain owner should be aware of this service to avoid unwanted exposure and protect their privacy. In this article, we will discuss what is domain privacy and protection in detail. We’ll cover why it’s crucial, how it works, how much it costs, and how you can set it up.
Table of Contents
Why is domain privacy important?
You should enable domain privacy because:
- Your name, address, and contact details are not exposed to anyone who may be curious or searching online.
- Domain privacy shields your email and phone number from spammers and scammers who can pull contact info from the WHOIS database.
- Public information can make it easier for hackers to target you with phishing attacks or other malicious activity.
- Marketers won’t be able to use WHOIS data to send unsolicited offers or marketing emails.
- When your details are hidden, it becomes harder for someone to impersonate you or steal your identity.
How does domain privacy work?
The WHOIS database is a public directory that stores information about who owns a domain name, including the owner’s name, address, phone number, and email. Anyone can look up this information for any registered domain, which is why domain privacy is so important.
When you enable domain privacy, your contact information is replaced with the details of a third-party domain privacy service. Instead of your name, address, and email showing up in the WHOIS database, the privacy provider’s information is displayed.
This way, the provider acts as a shield between you and anyone trying to access your personal data. Technically, your domain remains fully registered to you, but your details stay hidden, and you remain protected from unwanted attention.
For example, without domain privacy protection, your WHOIS listing may look like this:
Domain: example.com
Registrant: Alex George
Address: 678 Main Street, Anytown, USA
Email: alexgeorge6789@gmail.com
Phone: (123) 456-7890
With domain privacy enabled, you will be able to hide WHOIS information, and your listing would look something like this:
Domain: example.com
Registrant: Privacy Protection Service
Address: 345 Privacy Lane, Anytown, USA
Email: registrar@thirdparty.com
Phone: (123) 456-7890
What happens if you don’t use domain privacy?
Still wondering, “Do I need domain privacy?” Let’s explore some of the potential consequences of not choosing it:
Cyberattacks
Without domain privacy, your contact information is easily accessible, which can open the door to targeted cyberattacks, like phishing. For example, hackers may use your personal information to create convincing phishing emails or websites designed to trick you into revealing your login details or payment information.
Domain hijacking and legal risks:
When your information is public, it becomes easier for someone to impersonate you and attempt to take control of your domain. A hijacker could trick your domain registrar into transferring ownership, especially if they can steal sensitive information through social engineering. This could result in you losing your domain entirely, and needing to go through lengthy legal processes to get it back.
Identity theft
Exposing personal details online increases the risk of identity theft. Someone with malicious intent can use your public information to commit fraud. For example, they could open credit accounts in your name or use your identity for illegal activities.
Increased harassment or stalking
For individuals or businesses, not having domain privacy can lead to unwanted attention from competitors, stalkers, or even disgruntled customers. They can use your exposed information to contact you directly or harass you through phone calls, emails, or physical mail.
How to enable domain privacy and protection?
The steps to enable domain protection differ depending on whether you’re registering a new domain, or adding privacy to an existing one.
While registering a new domain:
- Select a domain registrar that offers domain privacy services (most major registrars do). You can check out HOSTAFRICA, where you can handle domain registration at ease.
- Use the registrar’s search tool to find and select the domain name you want to register.
- During the registration process, you’ll typically see an option to add “Domain Privacy” or “WHOIS Protection.” This is often presented as an additional service or checkbox.
- Select the domain name privacy service and add it to your cart.
- Review your order to make sure that domain privacy is included, and then proceed to checkout.
- After registration, verify from your account settings that domain privacy has been activated. You can also go to our WHOIS page to confirm that your personal information isn’t publicly available.
If you have already registered a domain:
- Access your domain registrar’s website and log into your account where the domain is registered.
- Find the section that lists your domains or account settings, and select the domain for which you want to add privacy.
- Most registrars have a tab or section labeled “Privacy,” “WHOIS Protection,” or “Domain Privacy.” Select this option.
- Check whether domain privacy is enabled. If it isn’t, you’ll likely need to purchase it. Follow the on-screen instructions to add it to your account, and complete the payment if required.
- After purchasing, visit our WHOIS page to ensure that the change has been reflected: your personal details should have been replaced with the registrar’s information.
How much does domain privacy cost?
The cost of domain privacy can vary depending on factors like:
- Domain registrar: Different registrars can charge different fees for the service.
- Domain extension: Some domain extensions have higher privacy fees than others.
- Additional features: Certain domain privacy services may offer additional features, such as email privacy or identity theft protection, which can increase the cost.
That said, typically, domain privacy costs around R99 to R380 per year. However, some domain registrars may include domain privacy as part of their basic registration package at no additional cost. For example, HOSTAFRICA provides free domain privacy for a range of selected extensions, including:
- .co.za
- .org.za
- .ng
- .com.ng
- .gov.ng
- .org.ng
- .capetown
- .joburg
- .durban
- .mobi
- .eu.com
- .gb.com
- .uk.com
- .za.com
- .uk.net
- .de.com
- .ud.com
- .africa.com
- .co.uk
- .web.za
- .org.uk
- .ai
- .co.bw
- .co.ke
It’s important to compare the costs and features offered by different domain registrars before choosing one that best fits your needs.
Is domain privacy available for all domain extensions?
Domain privacy protection is available for most common domain extensions, such as .com, .net, .org, and many country-specific domains. However, not all domain extensions support privacy services due to certain registry policies.
For example, domain privacy is not available for these extensions:
- .us (United States)
- .ca (Canada)
- .au (Australia)
These restrictions are often due to national regulations or the rules set by the domain registry. Before you register a domain, make sure to check if privacy protection is supported for your chosen extension.
Common misconceptions about domain privacy and protection
There are a lot of myths about domain privacy that often lead to confusion. We’ll finish off this piece by clearing up the most common ones:
“It’s only for big businesses.”
Many people think that domain privacy is only necessary for large companies, but it’s important for individuals and small businesses too. Anyone with a domain name is at risk of having their personal information exposed, which makes domain privacy an imperative.
“It makes my website invisible online.”
Domain privacy only hides your personal contact information from the public WHOIS database; it doesn’t affect the visibility or accessibility of your website at all.
“Why bother when millions of people don’t use it?”
Some believe that domain privacy isn’t essential because the WHOIS database is supposed to be public. But the reality is that without it, you’re leaving your contact information open to spammers, scammers, and even hackers. The risks, like identity theft and phishing attacks, make it a smart precaution for any domain owner.
“It is too complicated to set up.”
Domain privacy seems like a technical process, but it’s actually quite simple. Most domain registrars provide easy-to-follow instructions or can assist you with the setup.
“It’s expensive.”
Domain privacy is often very affordable, and some registrars even include it for free. The small cost can save you from bigger risks like legal issues, identity theft, or domain hijacking.
“It protects me from all cyber threats.”
Even though domain privacy protects your contact information, it’s not a complete shield against all cyber threats. It’s still important to have other security measures in place, like SSL certificates, automated backups, and strong passwords.
Conclusion
Domain privacy is a must-have feature in today’s world where more cyberattacks are happening than ever before. It keeps your private information safe, prevents phishing attacks, and reduces the risk of cyberbullying. Every domain owner, regardless of their website’s size or purpose, should enable it.