Keeps Your Contact Information Private
The main reason why people subscribe to private domain registration is to protect their privacy. By replacing your contact info with that of the domain registrant, you are keeping it away from no gooders online. Its no secret that the WhoIs website is exposed to data miners and other unscrupulous individuals.
Why Look Up A Domain Owner
There are many reasons someone would want to look up a domain owner. Often, its because the owner can furnish information about the domain and website that no one else can. Its also common for domain owners to search themselves in order to confirm that their website is being accurately represented online.
Other reasons to look up a domain owner:
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Who Is The Domain Owner
Domain names are owned by whoever first registered the web address with an accredited registrar, such as Domain.com. In order for that person to maintain ownership, they have to pay registration fees and ensure that all of their contact details are up to date.
Once a person has legally registered for a domain name, and has given all of the relevant personal information to an accredited registrar, that individual owns the rights to that web address. They are in sole possession of that web address and have the right to sell it at any time. The owner can transfer domain name ownership to a new user if they care to do so.
Recommended Reading: How To Buy An Unavailable Domain Name
Searching For Website And Domain Owners
In closing, you should not be surprised when you conduct a WHOIS search and see that the actual domain owner isnt posted because of a Domain Privacy tool. If you do want to know how many domains an individual might have, you can conduct the four reverse searches provided above.
Check out our article on the whois command if you want to learn how to use it.
Option #: Visit A Domain Name Registrar To Use Whois
Domain name registrars sell domain names, but they generally offer hosting too. If youre not ready for a website, most ICANN-credited registrars dont require hosting services to purchase domain names. The same scenario applies to web hostersthey offer domain name purchases alone. Namecheap.com and Domain.com are a couple of registrar examples. Your domain name searches use WHOIS automatically. However, you can scroll to the bottom of the companys website and access the WHOIS database through their system the same way you would with a web hosting provider.
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Looking Up Who Owns A Domain Name
The first thing you need to know is that WHOIS is not an acronym. Its a rare internet find where the word just makes sense.
Who is the owner of this domain and how can I find them?
A WHOIS lookup is a simple method to gain contact information and find out who owns a site.
Heres an example of how WHOIS lookup works with ICANN WHOIS Lookup:
Ever wondered who is behind a certain website?
If youre looking for a way to check who owns a domain name, youre in the right place.
In this article, we discuss how you can find out a domain owners information easily by using a WHOIS lookup tool.
Drawbacks Of Making Your Domain Info Private
Putting your domain on a private register may seem to be advantageous, but in certain situations it can prove to be inconvenient.
So, is private domain registration worth the extra few bucks? The answer varies. Keep in mind that the moment you sign up for taking a domain name, you’re also registering with ICANN and their WHOIS platform. The organization determines domain owners by their registered name and contact details in WHOIS.
When you put in a different alias or credentials, ICANN sees the name and assumes that it’s the rightful owner of that particular domain. More importantly, the name and information listed under the WHOIS platform is the legal entity of the domain.
The pros and cons vary when you decide to go for a private domain or not. If you’re keen to avoid spam emails and prefer privacy above all else, then go for private registers. If you don’t mind having spam emails for the sake of being listed as the legitimate entity, then by all means put your credentials under the WHOIS system.
Conversely, there are other ways to keep your personal information safe while showing up as the owner of a domain name. You can use your PO Box or list a virtual address, or even a second email when you’re buying domains. In this way your primary email address and home address won’t be available to the public. Also, your real business name will show up and not the proxy ones that get displayed when you sign up as a private domain.
Also Check: How To Start Selling Domains
Private Whois Database Listing
Having your personal information made available to the public will increase your risk of becoming a victim of hackers, spammers and even data miners. To keep your contact information out of the hands of those who may use it maliciously, Network Solutions® offers private domain name registration. For a small monthly fee, we’ll act as your proxy which means that anyone who does a WHOIS lookup for your domain name information will find our contact information, not yours.
How To Find Out Who Actually Owns A Domain Name
Last updated on June 2nd, 2021 by Editorial Staff | Disclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. See how WPBeginner is funded, why it matters, and how you can support us.
Do you want to find out who actually owns a domain name?
Looking up who owns a domain can help you find the owners contact information, so you can purchase the domain name.
In this article, well show you how you can find out who actually owns a domain name, step by step.
Why Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name?
Finding out who owns a domain name can tell you valuable information about the domain name owner.
Usually, this information will include an email address and other contact information, so you can get in touch to purchase the domain name.
It also shows you useful domain name information, like the last time it was registered, how many owners the domain has had, and more.
If you find that multiple people have owned a specific domain name, then this increases chances of the domain being used for spam.
When youre creating a WordPress website, one of the biggest decisions youll make is choosing the perfect business name and matching domain.
If youve found a great domain, but its already registered, then youll want to reach out to the owner to see if theyre willing to sell it to you.
Video Tutorial
If youd prefer written instructions, just keep reading.
Method 1: Search for a Domain With Domain.com WHOIS Lookup Tool
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Other Methods For Searching Domain Ownership
If you attempt to find a domain name owner through the WHOIS databases but fail to uncover the desired information, there are a few other research methods you should try before giving up.
Carefully inspect the website
Even if the domain name owner has hidden their information on the WHOIS database, the website itself might be able to furnish contact information. Scroll around, paying particular attention to the top and bottom of the page, searching for links that read contact information, or something similar. Even if it doesnt connect you directly to the owner, they might point you in the direction of someone who knows.
Social media
Scan any and all social media accounts associated with the domain name or website youre looking into. Consider resources like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Again, look for any reference to contact information or email addresses that might be visible.
What Is A Domain Name Registry
Domain name registries are organisations that manage a number of domains. In the UK, the registry managing the .uk TLD is Nominet UK. Similarly, the organisation managing .com generic domains is VeriSign. When you register a domain with OVHcloud, its name is linked to the data stored in one of the databases belonging to the registry concerned.
Registries are responsible for overseeing the distribution of domain names. If you would like to transfer yours from one hosting provider to another, the registry will facilitate the transfer, without forcing you to choose a different name. Each registry operates according to its own rules. Some are non-profit companies, like Nominet UK, while others are for-profit, like VeriSign. In all cases, registries hold the administrative data associated with the domains they manage. To do this, they create a zone file that contains the addresses of the server names. Above this organisation is ICANN, or âInternet Corporation for Assigned Domain Names and Numbers,â which is the California-based regulatory authority governing domain name registries.
Also Check: How Much To Purchase A Domain Name
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Tlds Handle Whois Differently
Some TLD registries have no Whois servers. This might be because they are new, or because they are relatively small. They are still obliged to provide other ways to query their databases, such as from the registry’s website theres generally a link within the returned Whois record that you can follow. In other cases, they might provide limited information on their Whois servers, but, for complete information, you will have to access that registrys site.
Each top-level domain handles Whois differently: each has different central Whois servers and different formats to respond to. For example, some top-level domains, including .com and .net, follow the thin Whois model, where domain registrars maintain their customers’ data, whereas much larger, global TLD registries operate under the thick model. CcTLDs on the other hand play by their own rules, which vary from nation to nation.
The records stored among domain registries vary for instance, .com and .net are managed by the domain name registry VeriSign. These gTLDs operate differently than standard Whois systems. The central Whois server will display information regarding the domain registered, when it expires, and the registrar it was registered with however, youll find nothing about the domain owner.
What Is Whois Privacy
The domain registration process requires submitting personal information, such as your name, address, phone number, and email to verify the entity that owns the domain.
The information about the domain owner is stored as a public WHOIS database listing that anyone can access using a WHOIS query except for domains registered in the EU and protected by the GDPR or that have their details hidden using the Domain Privacy Protection service.
This feature makes the domain owners data private in the WHOIS database listing, securing registrants details by replacing them with the details of a proxy server. Hostinger users can easily active this security service through their hPanel accounts.
Also Check: How To Check Availability Of A Domain Name
What If I Dont See Their Contact Information
Remember how I said there are ways to keep your contact information private? It is quite common and cheap to do so.
A domain owner can accomplish this by using a domain privacy service, which just about every website that sells a domain name offers.
Alternatively, they can use a proxy.
In either event, if the tool does not uncover the contact information, the domain owner is intentionally hiding their information, This is often a sign that they are not willing to sell.
However, all hope is not lost. If the website is still active, you can use any contact information listed on the website to begin the talks.
Keep in mind that not everyone is will to sell their domain. If this is the case, you are unfortunately out of luck.
Whys It Necessary To Have A Whois Database
The ability to find domain info quickly and accurately is important for a couple main reasons: 1. A WHOIS check is essential for people in the business of buying and selling domains. These individuals need a method of communication for their transactions. A WHOIS search will provide one or more methods for reaching the current owner of a web address. 2. The WHOIS database is a way to maintain accountability for people who operate online. For example, if you felt someone was using your trademarks on their website, the WHOIS database provides a number of ways to resolve that dispute.
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How Is The Gdpr Applicable To Webnamesca
Under Recital 23 of the GDPR, Webnames.ca claims no nexus with the EU, EEA nor the citizens of either, and therefore claims non-applicability of the GDPR to any and all aspects of its business.
Despite this, many of the domain Registries that Webnames is partnered with to provide domain extensions must comply fully with the GDPR. The changes to policies and procedures required of these partners will affect what information is collected, shared and displayed, and may result in changes to agreements and terms.
Notwithstanding, many domain Registries with whom Webnames.ca contracts must fully comply with the GDPR, and therefore these Registries may implement policies or procedures relating to WHOIS data which result in changes. These changes may include, but are not limited to,?variations in what WHOIS data is included and how it is displayed via the Webnamess WHOIS lookup page.
Therefore, in regards to WHOIS output:
Where the domain Registry is the sole source of Registrant WHOIS data for the queried domain, the WHOIS data will be displayed by Webnames in whatever form it is received from the Registry, without alteration of any kind. This may result in some fields, particularly those containing Personally Identifiable Information being absent, blank or redacted.
How Do You Find Out Who Owns A Domain
Sometimes you will discover that the name of a domain you wish to purchase is not available and this can be frustrating if you desire to own that specific domain name. In that case, it is important to find out who owns the domain name or who owns the website you want. The owner of a domain or website is called a registrant and this person or entity is legally recognized by the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers .
You can find out who owns the domain or who owns the website you are interested in owning by performing a WHOIS lookup search. WHOIS is an extensively used Internet record listing that archives the details of a domain registrant. To conduct a WHOIS lookup search, all you have to do is:
*Please note that this search will not issue to you the name of the owner behind the domain name if the registrant has used WHOIS lookup privacy security features.
However, you will be able to see the website hosting platform, registration duration of the domain name among other things that are allowed by the owner. From this listing of information, it is easy for you to find out who owns the website. If you desire, you can reach out to find out if the owner is willing to sell the ownership to you.
Recommended Reading: How To Buy A Web Domain Name
Find Out Who Owns A Domain Name
Its a requirement in Australia and most places across the globe, that all details relating to the registration of your domain are stored online in the public WHOIS registry. When you register a domain, your details are automatically listed in the registry, unless you opt for Domain Privacy.
This registration requirement makes domain ownership transparent, enabling anyone to check the registry and contact the owner of a domain directly, no matter where they are in the world. If you want to know who owns any single .au domain name, you can check the WHOIS directory simply via the portal below. View the auDA Whois Policy.
What Is A Whois Database
The WHOIS database contains listings of all registered domain names on the internet. It is maintained and regularly updated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers .
The database can be used to obtain information and records of domain names, like the registration and expiration dates, the current domain registrar and name servers, as well as the domain name owners personal contact information.
Also Check: What Is A Tld Domain Name
The Benefits Of Private Domain Registration
What is domain privacy protection, and does your business need it? First, its important to understand that when you register a domain name for your business website, your personal information such as name, address, phone number and email becomes public information.
For website owners, this can have several negative consequences:
- Youll receive a lot of spam emails and unwanted telemarketing calls from companies who scour the WHOIS directory for businesses contact information so they can try to sell them things.
- Malicious individuals may try to use the publicly available information, combined with social engineering, to hijack your domain that is, change the registration without your permission so that they own your domain. Dealing with a domain hijacking and getting your domain back could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars, not to mention the time and hassle involved.
- If you run your business from home, having your personal information exposed to the entire world means anyone could find out where you live, which could put you and your familys safety at risk.
If you try to avoid these issues by using fictitious contact information, you could lose the rights to your domain, because ICANN requires the information provided be accurate.
Although our company information is displayed on your domain registration, you still retain the full benefits of domain registration. Thus, only you can: