Newbie alert!

This board is very interesting and I've learned a lot already.

I'm wondering how it is typically done to keep your domain registration relatively anonymous. i.e., I don't wnat anyone with a whois to be able to figure out who I am (not for illegal purposes, what r u thinking?) :)

What options do I have???

http://www.stargateinc.com has a control panel that allows you to change your registrant information to whatever you like.
Why you would not want to be listed as contact, I don't know.
The problem being, if ever there came a question as to ownership of the particular domain you couldn't prove it was yours.
How could you claim ownership if it isn't registered to you?
But, if you're not concerned by that, then go with stargate. Besides the control panel features; they are one of the least expensive.

Perhaps I didn't pose my question well. I want a domain where it is not easy for someone to look at whois and know who I am.

I've looked at a lot of whois reports myself, and it is clear to me that many people/businesses do this. But I assumed that there was a strategy for doing it right. Obviously, the registrar has to be able to contact me, but...

Obviously, the registrar has to be able to contact me, but...

.....surely that's like having your cake and eating it too.

Don't know that it can be done any other way, but we have many clients who request that we don't include various details. We list our email as the contact email and we maintain in contact with the client if there are questions relating to the domain.

Not sure how we'd go if someone 'official' wanted to know those deatils from us though.

Hello
We occasionaly hold domains on behalf of clients witha written contract that they really own the domain.

This is normally only done for foreign domains.
For example multiple .it domains can only be held by a European registered company.
We have that status so we are able to use it to hold multiple domains on behalf of clients.

A word of warning - if you remove your whois details your domain will be deleted.
Its against ICANN rules and I have seen it done to one of our customers by OpenSRS.

Gordon

Thanks for the replies, the picture is clearer, much appreciated...

I don't see the point, the only people that have ever pulled my name and P.O. box from my WHOIS are Network Solutions and I just trash those after reading what they offer (knowing that I can get a better deal anywhere else). Otherwise, I get a lot of spam from people getting my email address, but I guess it wouldn't help to delete the address from WHOIS as they'd still get it from my web site. Obviously I can't hid the email contacts there.

Originally posted by gnorthey00
Obviously I can't hid the email contacts there.


Actually you can,
Either through the use of a bit of javascript or by having a fixed recipient hard coded into the formmail script.

Gordon

why don't you use fake email address. You will get spam initially when you register new domain. So enter the fake email address or non working email address. So you email address will be removed from spammers list. after 3-4 months change it with your original email address and you are done.

never use your hotmail or free email address in registration as it will give you more spam.

Isn't one of the conditions of domain registry true and accurate information? If a registrar or ICANN find false information they can cancel/revoke a domain registration.

I don't imagine they spend a great deal of time on enforcement but it could happen.

Just a thought.:cool:

You could register a .nu domain. Their whois servers give out no details about the person who registered the domain

Yes
Thats a good point.
The same is true of .co.uk
All you get is the "organisation" and the name servers.

Gordon

AFAIK, you can call use a business sounding name without being incorporated and all that. like "main st consulting", or whatever.

just some ideas.......

1) use a business name with your post office box, or with a commercial box address (mailboxes-r-us?)

2) if your domain hosting does not come with its own email account manager, then use a free yahoo account. if spam gets annoying, open a new account, and change the registry info accordingly.

since email accounts are free, I don't see any reason to not have a current email acct in the registry.