Do you guys hide WHOIS info?

14 years ago

I do not hide mine but when I am filling out the address details I only put in my street name and not the number. I live on a very long road.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062212].message }}

Negotiator74

14 years ago

Mine are private. It just makes sense to me to keep my business.....well......mine.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062216].message }}

Mike Schwenk

14 years ago

I personally hide mine. The only advantage I would see to leaving your WHOIS info open, is if it is on a domain that you are just squatting on and want people to be able to easily contact you to submit an offer.

Even so, that's not necessary. Many sites include some sort of option/feature to submit a bid on your domain's park page.

Furthermore, if someone needs to contact you, they can go through the standard procedure for a domain with private information. Why leave it open for that 1% of people that would 'need' it, when the other 99% could potentially have less-than-positive intentions?

Just my two cents.

-Mike

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062227].message }}

Rich Struck

14 years ago

I use the free whoisguard thing at Namecheap but I don't really care either way - I just do it because it's free.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062236].message }}

grayambition 14 years ago

I rent a box at one of those private mailbox places. I use that for registrations so I don't have to make my home address public.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

Jan Weingarten
Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very"; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. ~Mark Twain
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062244].message }}

mainstreetcm

14 years ago

I do it now because of a bill collection scam I was involved in... they got my info from a public WHOIS. Hounded not only me (cell phone was registered) but my grandparents (billing address at the time). It was a big ordeal that finally came to light that they got my info from the whois record...

Thanks

Signature

Are You A Beginner Or Struggling To Make Money Online?

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062243].message }}

dbonline

14 years ago

when registering sites I've never paid for private registration before, always just leave it public

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062489].message }}

Mary McLean

14 years ago

Good idea Jan...
Mary

Thanks

Signature

Newbie Starting Out?
Get Free Weekly Lessons Here

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062499].message }}

jzmoore

14 years ago

I keep mine private. Always keeping in mind the 2% rule (kooks) Some will love you for NO reason at all, some will hate you for NO reason at all. Protect your privacy.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Learn Internet Marketing via Step-by-Step
Video Tutorials - Nothing is Left Out.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062642].message }}

Paul Myers

14 years ago

Something to consider when making this decision: If you plan to send much email, or have an affiliate program associated with the domain, anonymous (private) registration adds to the sense of scamminess if someone gets complaints.

It has also been part of the consideration in at least one case in which someone was prosecuted for CAN-SPAM violations. Commercial email MUST include a valid postal address for the sender in the US.

Paul

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

.
Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062854].message }}

Paul Myers 14 years ago

For those who question that last comment: WHOIS Privacy Considered "Material Falsification"

Paul
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

.
Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062861].message }}

LB

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Something to consider when making this decision: If you plan to send much email, or have an affiliate program associated with the domain, anonymous (private) registration adds to the sense of scamminess if someone gets complaints.

It has also been part of the consideration in at least one case in which someone was prosecuted for CAN-SPAM violations. Commercial email MUST include a valid postal address for the sender in the US.

Paul

Yes, but that was in a case of actual spam. I hide my whois info because of auto-harvesting of the info (I've more than once found my contact info in auto-generated spam blogs simply because it was taken from whois data). I've also received spam faxes about services for my domain and obviously email spam as well.

My contact address is clearly available in all my emails and websites. If someone received email from me, they wouldn't need whois as it's clearly identified who it's from.

Just another perspective.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Tired of Article Marketing, Backlink Spamming and Other Crusty Old Traffic Methods?

Click Here.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062892].message }}

Paul Myers 14 years ago

Yes, but that was in a case of actual spam.

And snowshoe spam, to boot.

That doesn't mean it's not to be factored into a decision. For example, look at the number of people who offer a freebie without telling people up front that they're subscribing to a list. Even if you require confirmation, you still run the risk of confusing people. Then add some of the other mistakes inexperienced senders make, and you could be looking at CAN-SPAM violations due to a compounding of errors.

The aggravating factor of making the contact more difficult (note: not impossible) could create problems.

Unlikely? Sure. Impossible? Hell no.

Std_Disclaimer: Still not a lawyer.

Paul
- Thanks
- 2 replies
Signature

.
Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062913].message }}
- Marian 14 years ago
  
  No I don't hide the information. But I believe the first year with a domain registered by Namecheap it's free.
  
  Marian
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  7 Figure Affiliate Email Secrets
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062919].message }}
- websitemrktg 14 years ago
  
  Hide it just personal choice
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  
  Diana Caswell Colloidal Silver
  Best Vacation Offers
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062928].message }}
  
  Paul Myers 14 years ago
  
  Upon further consideration, I don't think it has to remain unlikely. I was able to think up a system that could be programmed for a few hundred dollars, would require only 2 or 3 people to administer, and would enable them to monitor every single free subscription list in the IM field.
  
  If I can think that up in 3 minutes based on a casual comment, I wouldn't remain too confident that lack of resources will keep the FTC from watching everyone more closely. Automation cuts both ways.
  
  Paul
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  .
  Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062983].message }}

darean

14 years ago

I personally do not hide my WHOIS information, for the simple reason that I want my Business to be transparent and open, just like Google, or any public company. You only want to hide things when you feel like the invasion of privacy is something you hold dear in your heart. I don't think that its necessary. I feel you're making yourself conflicted with these thoughts. Just find out who you really are deep down inside your core. Are you a introvert or extrovert? Find that out and you have your answer on whether you want to hide your WHOIS or not.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2062996].message }}

NenadR 14 years ago

I think that keeping things open will help slightly for me to get my sites to rank, so I am keeping them open. Other than that, I don't really care.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2063027].message }}
- Kevin Riley 14 years ago
  
  I keep full transparency in my business, so I do not hide my WhoIs info. Just one more place to attest to the legitimacy of my online business.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Kevin Riley, long-time Warrior living in Osaka, Japan
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2063044].message }}

Rob Whisonant

14 years ago

Think about it. If you had a brick and morter store. Would you hide your address and contact information? If you did nobody could find you.

Re's
Rob Whisonant

Thanks

Signature

FREE Email Marketing Quick Start Course! Start Building a Profitable Email List Today!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2063047].message }}

fated82

14 years ago

I make my info private. There is no reason why others need to know who am i or where I stay...namecheap have it for free and I use it...

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Get 50% Recurring Commissions Promoting Football Betting Tips!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2063148].message }}

scorcher 14 years ago

Originally Posted by fated82

I make my info private. There is no reason why others need to know who am i or where I stay...namecheap have it for free and I use it...

Same here
- Thanks
Signature
[NEW PLR WSO] Instagram Impact! Your Guide To Making Money With Instagram
[PLR WSO] Offline Cash Super Hero! Simple Newbie Friendly Method To Constant Cash
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2063238].message }}

BizBoost

14 years ago

I believe if you've ever had your real info on your domains, it's still going to be archived somewhere in the WhoIs Archives. And they'll also have info on how many other domains you've had, etc, so I believe someone who wanted to find you badly enough could buy 1, or more, reports and that'd be that.

That being said, I think it's most important to just not make it EASY for people to get your private info but don't obsess over making it impossible because those who really want it will probably get it. And, at GoDaddy, private reg costs like $9? So, you'd be doubling the price of your domains to go priv on all of them.

My preference, which is not legal advice, but just one friendly marketer sharing his idea with another, is to open up an LLC and you can have that info public, just use a UPS box which you can make look like a suite/apt number, and create an email acct just for your domain registration info only.

Thanks

Signature

** Follow Me On Twitter, Por Favor. I Auto-Follow. Thx! **

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2063194].message }}

Suzanne Morrison

14 years ago

I have a virtual office address that can forward mail and calls. I prefer to use this for privacy reasons, rather than my home address, especially as I have some local sites.

Cheers,
Suzanne

Thanks

Signature

=> FREE WSO - Penguinized! Discover How to Recover Your Site After Google Penguin <=

*** 30 Ways To Get Traffic in 30 Minutes Or Less - FREE Brandable EBook & Course ***

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2063258].message }}

PJ Harmsworth

14 years ago

Yes, you can keep it public. Any genuine transparent person (i.e. Someone who pays tax, has a legal passport and is registered to vote etc.,) is already on many databases.

However, it makes sense to use a 'business/mailing address' and a dedicated business telephone number (you can pick one up via Skype for a few dollars a month), when you register.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2063269].message }}

Lloyd Buchinski

14 years ago

Originally Posted by honestbizpro

I like NameCheap because they offer privacy free of charge.

The free of charge part is just for the first year unless they changed it lately. So if that's all anyone is doing, it's out in the open after that. Just that this has been mentioned at least 3 times in this thread without that little bit of info.

Thanks

Signature

Do something spectacular; be fulfilled. Then you can be your own hero. Prem Rawat

The KimW WSO

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2063496].message }}

Glenellis

14 years ago

I had a bad experience a few years ago with a guy who showed up on my front doorstep at 1 a.m., angry about the opinion I expressed in a "letter to the editor" I submitted to my local paper. Since then, I have made all my contact information private, and used a UPS/Mailbox Etc. mail drop for my "home" address. You never know who is out there and what will set them off, so there is no reason to make it easy for them to find you in person.