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.
How To Find Out Who Owns A Domain Name
Finding out contact details of a site owner is pretty easy. ICANN, or Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, has a WHOIS system in place just for that need.
WHOIS is a database of all domain owners and their pertinent contact details. Users can perform a domain lookup by going to WHOIS sites such as Who.is or using tools like JsonWhois.io.
Essentially, WHOIS platforms answer the question of who owns a domain, the owner’s IP address and contact details. Barring the owner using domain privacy service and proxies to hide their data, users will be able to get what they need quickly and easily.
These are the kinds of information that’s usually listed in the WHOIS system:
– The owner’s phone number and email address.
– Admin technical contact and billing contacts.
– Original registration date.
– Where the domain was registered.
IP address data may sometimes be revealed as well.
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.
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How Can I Protect My Privacy Online
If youve registered a domain and dont want your personal contact information listed publicly, why not consider domain privacy protection?
Then, when someone searches for your web address on the Whois database, alternative contact information will be displayed instead of your personal information.
Here at Namecheap, we offer free Domain Privacy with every new registration and transfer.
Our domain privacy service provider does not require your personal information at any stage and any details you share with Namecheap will stay with us.
Plus, if you have privacy protection in place, it also limits the chance of marketing firms and online fraudsters from handling your contact information.
Search The Whois Directory
Whenever a new domain is registered, the registrar is required to collect some basic contact information. This information is then submitted to the WHOIS directory, creating a large database of who runs each website on the net.
Therefore, searching the WHOIS directory should be the next step on the list if the first method did not work. Simply visit the ICANN lookup subdomain and enter the desired domain name in the search bar. Click Lookup and scroll down. Here you will find all the WHOIS data on the domain name.
If the domain owner did not pick WHOIS Protection, also known as Domain Privacy Protection option when registering the domain, his or her contact information will be seen there.
Of course, in most cases, people opt-in for domain privacy protection, thus you will only see the original domain registrar and the expiration date. In this case, you will know if the domain will be available again soon .
Even if that is not the case, knowing the domain registrar is also a plus because then you can do the following.
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Using The Whois Database
WHOIS is a public database which allows you to search for domain name details. These databases are published and updated by each extensions category . The information provided is sufficient to contact the source who can resolve configuration issues, if any, related to the domain name. The service offered by registrars and registries to provide WHOIS data is called the WHOIS Service. Anyone can use the WHOIS service to search their databases and identify the registered owner or Registrant of a domain name.
WHOIS performs the lookup task seamlessly. It discloses domain owners name and contact details. We, at TechWelkin, have experienced that people approach us with various queries by getting contact details from WHOIS search. If youre a domain owner, you might be concerned about your privacy. The good thing is that you can mask your personal information like the mailing address, phone number and email id to avoid misuse and spamming.
Domain owners who wish to safeguard their personal information can opt for Domain Name Privacy. It is a privacy protection service offered by certain registrars to protect domain name owners personal information. Personal information can be seen by others only if they follow a few privacy rules.
The WHOIS Lookup search is easy to use. Let us now perform a WHOIS lookup.
Identifying The Owner Of A Website
Have you ever wanted to identify the owner of a website? The WHOIS database contains domain name ownership information. A domain name, or URL, or web address, is registered through a domain name registrar, who in turn reports registration information to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers so that there is a unified database of URL ownership preventing two or more people from registering the same domain name.
While WHOIS Information is not made available directly through ICANN, a shared database is available through many different registrars who choose to make WHOIS information available through their websites. The problem here though is that sometimes registrars will only share that a domain name is registered through their service within this shared database and you will have to visit their website directly to query their WHOIS database.
My favorite WHOIS search provider is another meta-search provider which basically queries all of the different registrars for information, as well as offering several other different web tools, and returns more than just a simple WHOIS search result. This search is available through http://whois.domaintools.com/.
As an example of the information returned when conducting a WHOIS search here is the information returned when searching on my private investigation agency website domain name, compasspointpi.com:
Registrant:6706 N. 9th Avenue, Suite D-13Pensacola, Florida 32504
Recent Comments
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Why Domain Names Are Important
Now that weve covered how to find the owner of a domain name, its necessary to understand why domain names are important in the first place. Domain names are there to help websites be located and categorized. However, for companies and individuals, domain names can be the difference between a thriving web presence and one that has trouble getting off the ground.
When youre the owner of a domain name, your business or personal website gains credibility. Many internet users are rightfully skeptical of unknown websites, and when your domain name is tailored to your business, it gives your company a sense of trustworthiness that it might not have otherwise.
If a companys domain name is related to the services they provide, it becomes easier for internet users to find them, even if they havent heard of the company before. People who use a search engine to look up services or goods will have a higher chance of being directed to the companys website, especially if the content on that website has been optimized for search engines.
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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Digging Deeper: The Whois History Search Advantage
Weve come to know how crucial it can be to find out who is behind a domain that figured in a cyber attack. That helps researchers identify culprits and map an attack infrastructure so they can come up with solutions and future countermeasures. Without WHOIS information, they wouldnt usually know where to begin.
What others may not know, though, is that you can get relevant information from a historical WHOIS lookup tool. In fact, you may even get more. Tools such as WHOIS History Search give users data not only from a domains current WHOIS record but also from all of its domain records since its creation. And so, if they cant get what they need from a current WHOIS record due to privacy protection, they can contact a domain of interests last known registrant and start from there. In sum, it can not only be an alternative to a WHOIS lookup tool but an even better research partner.
The following list provides some of the many advantages of using a domain history lookup tool.
Some More Registrant Information Domain Server Information Domain Name Record Information
WHOIS performs the required task efficiently, however, at the same time it should be noted that the information available may be exploited or utilized for spam and other purposes. You may end up receiving emails and unnecessary information from different resources and start filling up your inbox. To get rid of this problem, there are certain tools to help protect your privacy.
As in the case of www.DomainSherpa.com, we are able to see only limited information about the actual owner as the information is camouflaged through a privacy protection service called domain name privacy. Many domain name registrars offer domain privacy to mask the actual information of the domain owner. The privacy feature helps display third party information to safeguard your personal information from publically available information. Personal information is collected by the registrar and is accessible only on request by following certain privacy rules and regulations.
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Inititate The Owner Change Procedure
In the General information tab, go to the Plan section in the bottom right corner. Click … next to the contacts, then click Change domain name holder.
Any changes to the owners first name, surname, organisation, legal status and email address are treated as a change of owner.
If you are only changing owner details other than mentioned above, continue with the section Updating the owner information below.
A new browser tab will open with all eligible domains. Select a domain name on the list by using the checkbox to the left of it. This step can also be used to launch a bulk operation: it is possible to initiate a domain trade for multiple domain names at once, for example to change the owner of all .ovh domains. When you have made your choices, click Continue.
In the owner details form, make sure to enter valid information into all the required fields. Avoid spelling mistakes and using non-ASCII printable characters whenever possible. Please note that any inaccurate or false information may cause a technical error and therefore a delay of the entire trading process.
Once you have confirmed your trade request, two emails will be sent to confirm or decline this change:
- one sent to the current owners email address
- one sent to the future owners email address
The procedure can be validated by both parties during a period of 14 days.
If the change is declined by one of the two parties, the action will be cancelled.
The Domain I Want Has Already Been Registered What Now
Dont panic, all is not lost. If the domain you like is currently registered by someone else, you have the option to present an offer to the domain owner, without having to navigate to another page. Select Make offer and start negotiating!
Alternatively, if its free to be registered you can select Add to cart and make your purchase.
Why Namecheap
Privacy and Security
Your website security and privacy comes first at Namecheap, and we will always support the rights of individuals and consumers online. Its our mission to keep the Internet open, free, and safe for everyone.
Your Business Online
Boost your business with industry-premium products and services, at prices that wont break your budget. If it doesnt provide you with a better Internet experience, we simply dont offer it.
Customer Service
Youre covered by a Support Team thats renowned for being one of the most knowledgeable, friendly, and professional in the business. Real people are ready to assist you with any issue, any time, 24/7
Need help?We’re always here for you.
We make registering, hosting, and managing domains for yourselfor others easy and affordable, because the internet needs people.
- Accessibility
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How To Find Out Who Owns A Domain
Why would you ever need to know the ownership of a domain?
Well, sometimes youre just curious about who owns a website but sometimes domain info can be much more valuable.
If you want to know how to find out who owns a domain name, then you need to start with a who is?
Stick around and we will show you how to find out the owner of a domain, why you need to check a domain, and how to search for a domain of your very own.
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Updating The Owner Information
If you need to update some secondary information such as phone number, address etc., you do not have to start a trade procedure. It can be edited directly in the OVHcloud Control Panel.
In the Plan section of the General information tab, click on … next to the contacts, then click Refresh owner information.
With this operation you do not need to confirm changes by email.
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Consider A New Domain Name
Theres a decent chance that even if you take all of these steps, the person that owns that domain now either wont want to sell, or will only accept a higher price than you can pay.
In that case, youre far from the first person to have to come up with an alternative to the first name you set your heart on. Consider different domain name extensionsif the .com is taken, the .net or .co may still be available. And brainstorm new domain name ideas. You may just come up with something you like even more than your original idea.