I noticed that some registration companies now offer this service (like 123-reg for example) and was curious if anyone uses them and if they're any good? Does it stop people buying reports from sites like domaintools.com and checking the past info on a site? Cheers.

Domain privacy has been around for a very long time... it's a pretty common feature. It does prevent people from seeing your current whois info, but as is being discussed in another thread here, it doesn't necessarily prevent 3rd party sites from displaying your past whois info.

i've been using domains by proxy for ages (i think they belong to godaddy) and they are preety good. It does mask some of the info to domain tools.com, but not all

It is a matter of using your or other peoples address and contact details.

Make sure you keep your name and email address right otherwise you can not prove the ownership and can not get the renewal emails;

Yes, the database does not include your address and phone and domaintools etc can only displays the current data, unless they kept the history of the whois for that domain name.

I use Namecheap's and Answerable.com's whois privacy.

i use namecheaps' whois protect too. actually it's free for the 1st year

I noticed that some registration companies now offer this service (like 123-reg for example) and was curious if anyone uses them and if they're any good? Does it stop people buying reports from sites like domaintools.com and checking the past info on a site? Cheers.

it's been discussed here many times. not everyone need to protect his/her privacy so it all depends on your needs.
once you start using privacy protection, your current data won't be displayed in any report. BUT old data which was not protected will definitely be accessible from whois history.

It is true that Whois privacy is now a standard service to add to domain registration. I don;t find proper to hide the registrant contacts, but at the same time I understand that someone might not want to expose their personal data. As far as for 123-reg they are quite popular UK registrar.

My newest domain is registered with Name.com They offer free private WHOIS, for as long as the domain is registered with them.

My newest domain is registered with Name.com They offer free private WHOIS, for as long as the domain is registered with them.

is this a campaign with a limited time offer or does this company really give away whois protection service for domain life?

I really hate to pay for who is protection, using namecheap and godaddy mainly. after first year you have to pay for whois protection.

bad thing from godaddy, namecheap and others who ask you money for privacy protection after the first year.

I don't know how is at name.com but i'm using register-one.com for almost 3 years now and from the first the privacy protection was free and it's free even after first year if you continue with them.

i will say to you for sure better to use i did stupid thing i buy whmsonic.info domain from godaddy without this solution and i got 200 spam mails per day

I use Namecheap and Dynadot's whois protection, as well as 123-reg and UKReg. UK domains have free whois protection anyway. As a woman, I find it's probably more prudent to hide my contact details. I remember a while ago, before com/net/org's allowed whois protection, there was some protest from female domain owners who wanted to hide their details.

without this solution and i got 200 spam mails per day

"Hiding" your details from the WHOIS system does not stop you getting spam - a common misconception.

now for sure i agree not help but if i buy wena i register the domain it help!

now for sure i agree not help but if i buy wena i register the domain it help!

It makes *zero* difference to the amount of spam sent to you, as the "privacy" company simply forwards the junk they receive onwards (as they are required to)

Within hours of registering a domain you will get spamming scum sending mail to (anything)@yournewdomain

It happens - the only 2 solutions are:
1. implement better filters
2. shoot people who buy things from spammers