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Buying a domain name, and privacy

by Sokar408
19 replies
Hey Fellow Warriors


I'm in the process of buying 3 domains, and I domain.com seemed like a good legal place to get them.


However they are offering some sort of privacy package, saying it will hide who I am, to help prevent ID-theft.


The added cost is not a problem if its actually helpful, but since none of the other providers I have checked out offer the same thing, I don't really know what to think.


Any Warriors with a tank on this?
#buying #domain #privacy
  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Adams
    Always get domain privacy. All hosting companies offer this, either for a small fee or often a standard option with registration.

    When people look up your domain, the info with default private info filled in instead of your name, billing address, email, and phone number. For example
    WarriorForum.com - Warrior Forum Information
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  • Profile picture of the author Meharis
    Originally Posted by Sokar408 View Post

    Hey Fellow Warriors


    I'm in the process of buying 3 domains, and I domain.com seemed like a good legal place to get them.


    However they are offering some sort of privacy package, saying it will hide who I am, to help prevent ID-theft.


    The added cost is not a problem if its actually helpful, but since none of the other providers I have checked out offer the same thing, I don't really know what to think.


    Any Warriors with a tank on this?
    I'm a domainer and never would go that way.
    You can go to "1and1.com" or "NameCheap.com" and register your domain "Private" without any fishy smell.
    Meharis
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
      Sokar408,

      Good to see you moving forward.

      I am not familiar with the site you mentioned. Meharis has mentioned a couple. I like domainsinseconds.com.

      If you don't feel good about their privacy package, check out another site to register your domains.

      Hope this helps.

      Joe Mobley
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      Follow Me on Twitter: @daVinciJoe
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  • Profile picture of the author Mary D
    Namecheap is a good one.
    Privacy is a good option if you don't want your name, address, email addres and phone to be public in the whois - well that's what I was told

    I always wondered if there would be any downside / cons to use the Privacy feature....

    mary
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    • Profile picture of the author Meharis
      Originally Posted by Mary D View Post

      Namecheap is a good one.
      Privacy is a good option if you don't want your name, address, email addres and phone to be public in the whois - well that's what I was told

      I always wondered if there would be any downside / cons to use the Privacy feature....

      mary
      If you're in the domain business will be to your advantage showing who you're by listing your email (just for this purpose only, nothing else), cellular # and a PO Box address, wont bring you any problems.
      If you're not in domaining you better keep it private.
      Meharis
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Mary D View Post

      I always wondered if there would be any downside / cons to use the Privacy feature....
      Domain privacy is for people who are operating as private citizens from their homes.

      If my 7-year-old son wants to have his own domain name, and he's going to post pictures of himself and his friends on a blog there (yes, my seven-year-old blogs), it is simple good sense to use domain privacy on that domain.

      If I want to set up a blog about my personal experiences going to raves in the Seattle area, it is also good sense to use domain privacy on that domain - even if I later monetise it with AdSense or affiliate products.

      But if I am going to run a business online, domain privacy is unethical and immoral and ought to be illegal.

      If I run a business offline, my company name, address, and phone number are posted publicly in my place of business. This is required by law.

      It is only a matter of time before government agencies worldwide come to the agreement and understanding that when you run a business online, your domain name is your place of business.

      Turning to the "virtual real estate" angle, I can run a title search on any property I like to find out who owns it and where to contact that owner.

      When I was in real estate, I did this all the time when I saw distressed properties, and then I'd bird-dog them over to an investor once I got a good idea of the numbers.

      So even if you're treating your domains like property and not business locations: if you're doing business with domains, domain privacy is wrong, and should never be used.
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        if you're doing business with domains, domain privacy is wrong, and should never be used.
        All very well and good (if you like that kind of thing) but try telling my father that his daughter's home address is going to be freely available on the internet.
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        • Profile picture of the author Meharis
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          All very well and good (if you like that kind of thing) but try telling my father that his daughter's home address is going to be freely available on the internet.
          As father myself, your father's concern is legitimate.
          I suggest you warriors reading "dv8domainsDotCom"
          posting and take from there whatever fit your needs
          and/or believe.
          Meharis
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  • Profile picture of the author Ben Roy
    I can't think of any real downside to using privacy. What I can tell you is that if in doubt, go for the privacy right off the bat. You can always remove it and have your information published. But once you've registered it without privacy, there are all kinds of sites that will store that information forever, and you will never be able to hide the data. So opting for NO privacy has a permanency to it, while opting FOR privacy is a temporary decision which you can change your mind on later.
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  • Profile picture of the author Firstrate
    Namecheap is my favourite registrar and they give you free privacy.
    Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author chrisscott
    Originally Posted by Sokar408 View Post

    but since none of the other providers I have checked out offer the same thing, I don't really know what to think.
    What I understood is that Sokar408 you are actually trying to know whether Privacy kind of thing really works as you checked out and didn't find on other providers.

    Well yes domain Privacy feature is very much provides by almost all the registrars.

    I must suggest you to get Privacy feature with domain as well some provide it free and some ask a little fee. Mine registrar ask little fee and I always happy to pay it whenever I register a domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author Anup Mahajan
    Another vote for Namecheap. Earlier I used GoDaddy and paid extra for privacy but ever since I switched to Namecheap, I get the privacy protection at no extra cost.

    Anup
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  • Profile picture of the author domaininvestor
    As someone who owns 1,000 domains I have to put my vote in for Moniker when it comes to security and Go Daddy for usability.

    Privacy is not necessary unless you are doing something on the domain that you don't want others to know about.

    If you ever plan on selling the name you'll have to take privacy off so people know that you own it.

    Moniker is just about the only registrar on the planet that has NEVER lost a domain. One small fun fact also - their domain appraisals are the only ones accepted by the IRS
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  • Profile picture of the author domaininvestor
    Oh and avoid 1&1 at all costs - they really really suck if you have more than two domains...
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    • Profile picture of the author Meharis
      Originally Posted by domaininvestor View Post

      Oh and avoid 1&1 at all costs - they really really suck if you have more than two domains...
      Really? I only own 110 domain names and I haven't noticed.
      I got my first domain with them about 2000 and I never have any problems.
      Their phone support is very good even at 01:00am.
      Maybe you could let us know why.
      Meharis
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        GoDaddy gives free privacy protection for the first year on 5+ domains all registered in the same transaction.

        Namecheap gives it free on all domains registered there.
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        • Profile picture of the author dv8domainsDotCom
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          GoDaddy gives free privacy protection for the first year on 5+ domains all registered in the same transaction.

          Namecheap gives it free on all domains registered there.
          on 5+ domains the privacy will be free for the duration of the initial registration, not just the first year.

          And here's the thing: All privacy actually DOES is hide your info on the whois in a way that meets ICANN requirements. If you are concerned, update all of the contact types (registrant/admin/technical/billing) to something quasi-fictitious, but not obviously so. The ADMIN EMAIL is typically the only one that matters (this is the only email used in domain-related transactions (such as transfers)). You can set this as "privatelyregistered@thatdomainname.com" and have it such that the email forwards to one that you'd check anyway (and TA DA this is precisely what the privatereg email does ANYWAY!).

          Use a PO Box for address (even if you don't own one), Use semi-made up phone#. Nobody has any business calling you from whois listing. Your registrar will contact the email or phone number on your ACCOUNT, not from the WhoIs.

          Considering the 10's of thousands of domains registered daily, there is no feasible way to monitor general registrations for accuracy. The email is important, but nothing else is, and nothing else should concern you. And don't pay for privacy, fake it if you need it!
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    If you absolutely need privacy protection for your domain name, then go with namecheap as I believe that it's the only registrar that offers this free of charge.
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  • Profile picture of the author goldenfuture
    i think there are many more domain companies offer the privacy service for the domain registration.Only depends on the choice,if you use their hosting,maybe the pravicy and domian fee is free of charge,like bluehost. or if you use the domain only, you will pay extra a little money for the doamin privacy.But i think it is helpful for you to keep your information safer.
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