Protecting your privacy is more important than ever in this age of increasing data violations through breaches, spamming calls, and hacking attempts. Registering website names carries the risk of revealing personal information to the public, but before you give up on the technology entirely, keep reading to find a solution.
Opting for private registration for domain names provides you with an additional layer of security for all your online dealings. In this in-depth article, learn about what domain privacy protection is, how it works, and why you need it.
What Is Domain Privacy?
Domain privacy protection is a solution that conceals your WHOIS data from the general public. Website owners who employ this safety measure reduce their vulnerability to spamming and identity theft.
WHOIS, pronounced as “who is,” is a database where domain registrants’ details are usually kept. Your contact details, such as those listed below, can be found in a WHOIS directory:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number/s
- Domain name/s
- IP address/es
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) governs domain name registration and ownership.
If your website is publicly accessible online, then it stands to reason that unauthorized parties may gain access to sensitive information about your company.
The only way to eliminate these dangers from your digital platform is to employ domain registration privacy. Registering a private domain is an “add-on” option that helps keep your information secure from hackers. Domain registrars provide privacy protection, so your personal information in WHOIS records is hidden from prying eyes.
Protecting your user network is crucial to the success of your digital platform as a whole, and this feature may play a key role in ensuring the security of all your data.
Why Is Domain Privacy Important?
Let’s go through four of the most important reasons why protecting your company’s online data is a smart move.
1. It Keeps Your Data and Contact Info Safe
The registration process for a domain name requires your authentic contact information for safety reasons. ICANN will acknowledge an entity or individual named as the rightful proprietor of the domain name. Providing inaccurate details for the WHOIS database may result in a name ownership dispute.
However, anybody may get hold of your information because it is kept in a publicly accessible database. Hackers can use the information to compromise your site and plant malware.
In addition, they can steal private customer information or disclose company information to rivals, causing you to lose both money and the respect of your clientele. That is why employing a service like privacy protection to conceal sensitive data is a good idea.
2. It Lowers the Number of Spam and Sales Calls You Get
The daily barrage of unsolicited phone calls and text messages is another compelling argument in favor of investing in domain privacy security. Scammers’ use of cold calls, phishing texts, fake phone numbers, and spam emails is pervasive.
In 2022, a staggering 68.4 million Americans or 26% of the population fell victim to phone scammers, according to the U.S. Spam and Scam Report. Privacy services prevent spammers from getting fresh phone numbers from an easy-to-access location.
3. It Helps You Avoid Domain Theft
When someone makes unauthorized modifications to your domain’s registration information, they have committed theft. Domains may be easily breached by obtaining their owners’ email addresses and registrar account details.
Adopting private registration for domain names helps you avoid financial losses and reputational damage.
4. It Stops Competitors from Getting Company Insights
As a business owner, you may be aware that rival companies would like to learn more about your company. You risk losing your competitive edge if they obtain sensitive information and use it to understand your company and its operations better.
There may be several ways competitors can learn about you, but if your information is out in the open, they may easily take your contact details and use them in marketing campaigns.
Investing in privacy protection will make it more difficult for competitors to gather such information.
Conclusion
Protecting your privacy while online is a vital digital safety habit that will keep your personal information safe. Domain privacy protection is simple, cheap, and can prevent many headaches. It’s a good idea to call your registrar or hosting provider’s customer assistance team to see if you already have this “add-on” option in place.
