I'm wondering if it's possible to register domains so that my personal details will not show on the WHOIS registrar.

Is it possible to have details registered anonymously? Or should I simply use other user names for the purpose of the WHOIS database?

Of course you can.
There are services which allow to hide your details.
Godaddy and Registerfly have them for instance.
Many others also.

namecheap too

and enom.com also

domainsbyproxy.com is an example and have full explination about what the service is

There are a number of providers offering this. Domainsbyproxy (godaddy) and protectfly(registerfly) have been around the longest.

I've used Enom and Godaddy's services and both work pretty well. Godaddy has let in 1 spam email in about a year that I've been using it.

I've seen the Enom service, but it would be rather costly in bulk.

Is it actually illegal to register your domain in someone elses name - business partner, secretary, etc?

u can use real info and point the email to /dev/null to avoid spam too ;)

I have used a MSN account for domain registrations. It has pretty good SPAM scrubbing but lets through things like renewal emails (which one would want to receive in most cases).

with the .uk registry you can opt to have your details withheld from the public whois database.

RegisterFly (enom reseller) offers the service for only .99 per domain which has been the cheapest for a while. For less than a dollar, keep your personal info away from all those spammers, scammers, and also the nosey folks out there (who hate us beautiful people). :)

Originally posted by Gen-T
RegisterFly (enom reseller) offers the service for only .99 per domain which has been the cheapest for a while. For less than a dollar, keep your personal info away from all those spammers, scammers, and also the nosey folks out there (who hate us beautiful people). :)

Amen , I have several hundred of my names protected with ProtectFly and it works like a charm ;)

Why pay a registrar for anonymous service ?

Just use "Domain Manager" in the contact field.

Get a postal box or a "mail receiving service" postal box
for the address.

Get a "voice mail service" phone number for the phone.

Obviously, this would only save you money if you had
alot of domain names.

Originally posted by elink
Why pay a registrar for anonymous service ?

Just use "Domain Manager" in the contact field.

Get a postal box or a "mail receiving service" postal box
for the address.

Get a "voice mail service" phone number for the phone.

Obviously, this would only save you money if you had
alot of domain names.

for .99 it is worth the cost.

and namecheap offering it for free :D

Originally posted by UH-Matt
with the .uk registry you can opt to have your details withheld from the public whois database.

ONLY if you are a private individual and if the domain is used for non-commercial purposes. And this does get monitored and enforced - the moment Nominet becomes aware of a trader hiding behind a "details withheld" entry the details get put in the public Whois.

But at least Nominet has the sense to only publish postal addresses...

Thanks for the replies, all - yes, registering .co.uk names allows opt-out for individuals, which is darn good. Especially when you manage to make an enemy of continental neo-nazis, and would much prefer them not to track any personal information via WHOIS info.

but if legal authority ask for the info they will hand it over ;)

Originally posted by I, Brian
I've seen the Enom service, but it would be rather costly in bulk.

Is it actually illegal to register your domain in someone elses name - business partner, secretary, etc?

Putting your domain name under another person's name
instead of yours or your company's is putting yourself
into VERY deep trouble. I've encountered many people
who soon learned of this & turned into a nightmare
for them.

Unless the person is someone you can trust with your
life, I wouldn't try it. Besides, that person might want
to keep HIS/HER info private as well.

Many registrars offer a WHOIS privacy service. So far,
the only one I've seen who provides this for free is
omnis.com.

Best you invest a few extra bucks into using that
WHOIS privacy service. You're investing it for your
security, not dishing out an extra expense (depends
on how you see it).

Originally posted by Bashar
but if legal authority ask for the info they will hand it over ;)

I have no problem with government agencies accessing WHOIS info on myself. :)

It's people with illegal intentions in mind that bother me!

i know godaddy do that, with some fees

Originally posted by I, Brian
Thanks for the replies, all - yes, registering .co.uk names allows opt-out for individuals, which is darn good. Especially when you manage to make an enemy of continental neo-nazis, and would much prefer them not to track any personal information via WHOIS info.

Yes but your own registration breaches Nominet's terms and conditions. As an individual you can only opt out if the domain is being used for non commercial/trading purposes otherwise you have no right to opt out.

http://www.nominet.org.uk/RegistrantOpt-out.html

No, Goldwing, my registrating does not breach Nominet's terms and conditions, because I have not opted out of my business domain. That would simply look unprofessional. :)

It would be interesting to see if there's a legal precedent on the issue with regards to detailed WHOIS vs human rights, though.

Originally posted by I, Brian
No, Goldwing, my registrating does not breach Nominet's terms and conditions, because I have not opted out of my business domain. That would simply look unprofessional. :)

It would be interesting to see if there's a legal precedent on the issue with regards to detailed WHOIS vs human rights, though.

:D It was on Sat.

Anyway I was one of the Nominet members who fought hard against this crazy ruling, Nominet's legal department have though stated it does not breach any UK or EU human rights or privacy rulings, myself and a number of others disagree with that but until such times as someone wants to challenge this in the courts then we have to accept the status quo. The situation though is not dead.

I am unaware of your own position but we recently had a case where a wheel clamper registered a domain and for obvious reasons did not want to use his home address, Nominet just shuts its eyes to the obvious problems and one of the reasons we now provide a free masking service ( Legal withing Nominet's T&C's) for our clients if required.

Moreover and the reason I fought so hard against it was the fact of privacy for children and easy access to addresses and phone numbers for perverts.

Indeed - I run a large interfaith forum, and let's just say that some of the people the place attracts are rather colourful. Recently I earned the enmity of a neo-Nazi, who has since repeated attacked the board. Luckily, vbulletin is good against trolls, but I fear it's a matter of time before someone with webmaster brains uses and abuses the public WHOIS to make the matter rather more personal. As I have a young family, the mere possibility makes myself rather protective.

So for the moment, I'll register .co.uk's as an opted out individual, and look to move other domains to registrars who offer protection of information.

And, yes, I did accidently opt-out britecorp, but opted back in again. :)

I'm sure we'll see the privacy issue address soon enough, though - WHOIS info on individuals seem only to specfically benefit spammers, scammers, and people of malintention.

A PO BOX and free 0870 number just for whois usage is another possible answer, you could cloke your address and phone number.

Originally posted by UH-Matt
A PO BOX and free 0870 number just for whois usage is another possible answer, you could cloke your address and phone number.

Yes Matt and this is one of my bones of contention, by using a PO box there is no difference in real terms to having the domain opted out and is just an added expense to the registrant. Any person needing the registrant info for legitimate purposes have avenues to get this anyway. I personally have no need to hide my details but have to accept that there are numerous reasons for doing so.

Masked phone numbers along with PO boxes are not needed as the UK whois does not show telephone numbers ( easy enough to find if the address is listed though)

Namecheap is offering masking service free. Buy it in your own name.

If free, I might use it. But paying for such service? I dont think so.

I dont see that there is a good resone for keeping ur real info hidden else than spam. If you hate spam, then pay for it ;) it worth your hate for spam.

Originally posted by Talal

I dont see that there is a good resone for keeping ur real info hidden else than spam.
You might feel differently once some crazy person shows up on your doorstep, because you said something he didn't like in a forum, or appraised his domain name lower than he was hoping for, or said his design was bad when he asked for opinions.

It happens. Sad but true. :eek2:

Privacy gets to be a greater concern with each passing day, IMHO. There is reason you don't give out your phone number and home address to people you meet on the street. Why should the web be any different.

For businesses, I like to know who I'm doing business with. So if the whois is masked with one of the privacy services, I'm apt to inquire as to why?

I use my real telephone on all my domains and I receive surprisingly few solicitations. I want the people who do business with me to feel comfortable. I do use a P.O. Box, though, simply because I caught the neighborhood teens grabbing my mail as a prank.

Personal domains are another matter and Gen-T does have a point about someone showing up at you door. Gen-t also has a point about privacy in modern times. I have rental property and it sometimes scares me what I can find out about people (rental applicants) for less than $13.00. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by 4solutions
For businesses, I like to know who I'm doing business with. So if the whois is masked with one of the privacy services, I'm apt to inquire as to why?

Personal domains are another matter and Gen-T does have a point about someone showing up at you door.

Yes I agree with that, although I am more apt to ask why contact information is not provided on the site rather than just the whois which is now nothing more than a joke. On saying that I have came across a few situations likes of above where publishing anything other than a PO box would not be wise.

Like you I totally agree that personal domains are something completely different, in the UK where there is an opt out for personal domains this is systematically abused.

If a business is using the service I would probably not want to use them. If it is a personal domain holder I see nothing wrong with using a whois protection service.

I agree. My thoughts were mostly regarding personal domains and sites.

For a commercial site (business), I too would feel a bit odd if the company did not list any address or phone number, so for those I would not (and do not) use privacy protection. Unless I'm selling something or collecting money for something though, I still prefer to keep my info private.

Originally posted by Gen-T
I agree. My thoughts were mostly regarding personal domains and sites.

For a commercial site (business), I too would feel a bit odd if the company did not list any address or phone number, so for those I would not (and do not) use privacy protection. Unless I'm selling something or collecting money for something though, I still prefer to keep my info private.

Agreed, I also normally do not do business with companies that do not post their address and phone number on their website. This is an extra layer of assurance I like to see.