
Setting up a website usually begins with choosing and registering a domain name that becomes its online address. Private registration for a domain name, also known as domain privacy, allows individuals to register their domain names without having personal or business contact information available to the public via the WHOIS database. This additional level of privacy has become increasingly popular with site owners wanting to protect their personal information. This blog will examine what private domain registration is, look at its pros and cons, explain what the WHOIS database is, and how it has changed recently.
Table of Contents
What is Private Registration for a Domain Name?
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for the overall governance and coordination of the Internet’s naming system, which includes domain name registration. To do this, ICANN requires the website owner’s personal and/or business information to be submitted.
This includes your name, address, name servers, and contact details. These are in turn, listed in the IANA WHOIS database. This allows anyone to look up who owns the domain and how to contact them. Private registration is a service domain providers offer to conceal your personal contact information from users.
With private registration, your provider replaces your details with their own. This means domain ownership becomes anonymous and your privacy is protected, while still adhering to ICANN regulations. Private registration offers an extra layer of privacy, possibly preventing unwanted contact and security risks.

The WHOIS Database
The WHOIS database is a publicly accessible directory that provides detailed information on registered domain names and their associated IP addresses. This includes who owns the domain, their contact details, Domain Name System (DNS) servers, and their registration and expiration dates. When you perform a WHOIS search, it retrieves the information from the database and delivers it in a readable format.
ICANN oversees the management of the WHOIS database. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the transparency and accountability of domain name ownership. It’s used for several reasons, including verifying a website owner’s identity and facilitating domain purchases, and transfers.
People or businesses who want to purchase a registered domain name can use the WHOIS database to contact the domain owner directly. It also means your personal information is available to anyone, including hackers, spammers, and identity thieves.
Hosted.com offers a WHOIS Lookup Tool to help you find out if the domain name you want to use for your website is available for registration.
Once you’ve confirmed its available, registering your domain is quick and easy. All you need to do is create a Hosted.com Account, fill out the required registration info, complete your purchase and you’ll have your new domain name in minutes.
Public Domain Names
The difference between public and private domain names is the visibility of domain registrants’ information in the WHOIS database.
If you’ve found the perfect domain name, but it’s already been taken, you can find out who owns it and how to contact them if you want to purchase it. Alternatively, you’ll be able to see how long the domain is valid for and when it expires. You can then wait until it becomes available, provided the owner doesn’t renew it.
As we’ve explained, unless you opt to make your domain name private, it will be a public domain, listed openly in the WHOIS database. This level of transparency can be beneficial for businesses that want to establish and maintain trust with their customers and audience by making it easy to verify ownership of their domain.

Pros of Private Registration
Private registration for domain names offers several advantages, enhancing privacy and security for individuals and businesses alike as your information is hidden from the public. This extra layer of privacy can offer peace of mind, especially since personal data is highly sought after by cybercriminals.
On a more serious note, private registration can help protect against online fraud, phishing scams, and viruses. Cybercriminals often use public information to impersonate people so they can steal sensitive data and infect computers and systems with malware.
In the business world, companies often research their competition to gain insights or find an edge. Private registration ensures that your business’s information is not easily available to competitors.
For businesses that operate in multiple locations or target markets outside their registered location, private registration can help hide its physical location. This is particularly useful for companies that may be registered in one country but target customers in another, allowing them to present a more localized presence.
Cons of Private Registration
While private domain registration offers significant benefits in terms of privacy and security, there are also some cons to keep in mind:
There is a trade-off when it comes to transparency and user trust. While private registration offers privacy and protection, it can also affect how potential visitors and customers view your website, especially for e-commerce and business sites. They might see the lack of publicly available contact information as a red flag, which could lead to mistrust and questioning the legitimacy of the business.
The additional cost should also be considered. Most providers charge an extra fee for this service. This fee is on top of the regular cost of registering and renewing your domain name. If you have multiple domains, these costs can add up, making it a more expensive option compared to standard registration.
It can sometimes complicate the process of transferring domains. Since it is registered under the provider’s contact information, there may be extra steps needed to prove who owns it and start the transfer. This can lead to additional documentation being required and submitted, delaying the process, and making it longer than a standard registration.
Finally, when it comes to security, while private registration protects the domain owner’s privacy, it can make it harder for the average person to identify and contact the owner of a domain being used for fraud and other criminal activities.
WHOIS and Data Privacy
WHOIS traditionally provided free public access to data on registered domain names. Previously, if you were thinking of buying a domain that was already taken, you could simply search for it and find out pretty much everything you needed to know. That has changed, now in most cases, you need to submit a request to find out the identity and contact information of the domain name registrant.
This is due to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which took effect in May 2018.
The GDPR is a comprehensive data protection law in the European Union (EU) that aims to give people control over how their personal information gets processed online.
GDPR applies not only to EU citizens but also to anyone within EU borders, regardless of nationality or citizenship status.
It also extends its reach to companies outside the EU if they monitor activities or offer goods and services to individuals physically present in the EU. Due to this, organizations outside the EU that process data of EU residents are also subject to its regulations.
Businesses covered by the GDPR must clearly explain data collection processes in a transparent privacy policy. They must also specify the legal basis for collecting each category of personal information and define why they are processing that information.
In response to GDPR, ICANN implemented changes to its WHOIS policy to comply with the new privacy standards. These changes were mainly made to protect domain registrants’ confidential information.
WHOIS Redaction under GDPR
GDPR prioritizes individual privacy and the availability of personal data, which has led to major changes to how WHOIS data is handled. Under the new rules, providers and registries must explicitly state when a domain’s ownership details have been “Redacted for Privacy.”
WHOIS data sharing became illegal unless the domain owner explicitly consents to making their Personally Identifiable Information (PII) public. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in massive fines.
While the general public can no longer access full registrant information through WHOIS searches, some provisions allow access for legitimate purposes. Security and law enforcement use the WHOIS database to track down and address cybercrimes like spam, phishing, ransomware attacks, and fraud. They can request access to redacted information through the provider used to register the domain.
ICANN’s WHOIS policy adjustments aim to balance the need for privacy protection that doesn’t come at the expense of accountability under GDPR. This goes a long way to helping keep the Internet and its users safe while ensuring domain name owners using their sites for malicious purposes can still be held accountable for their actions.
Increased Protection
Domain registrants benefit from increased privacy and protection against spam, phishing, and potential identity theft thanks to GDPR.
The redaction of confidential information from the WHOIS database is mainly aimed at enhancing user privacy and complying with data protection laws. It also has benefits when it comes to cybersecurity. Here’s how these changes can impact the risk of cyber-attacks and provide you with extra security:
By redacting sensitive information, registrants are less exposed to phishing attempts, ransomware, and spam.
Phishing often relies on taking personal information to make convincing fake messages and emails leading users to sites that can steal financial details or infect their computers with malware.
Hackers often use publicly available information to monitor their victims. The redaction of private information makes it harder for them to find the data needed for ransomware attacks and identity theft. The less user information available, the lower the risk of attack.
The redaction of information has also raised concerns about transparency and accountability, particularly in cases of abuse or illegal activities conducted through domain names.
Redactions can also make it more difficult for security and law enforcement to quickly identify and act against malicious domain registrants. For example, they can potentially exploit privacy protection by registering domains anonymously, lowering the risk of being identified. This can potentially slow down the response to cyber-attacks.
This underscores the need for balanced approaches that protect privacy while ensuring accountability.
Many providers offer additional security features alongside private registration, such as two-factor authentication, domain lock services, and DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions). These features provide layers of security that protect domain registrants from unauthorized transfers, DNS spoofing, and other cyber threats.
The GDPR has ruled that all EU and their adjacent overseas counterparts, including domain name services, audit, evaluate, and prioritize how sensitive information is collected. This means ensuring that data collection is minimal and protective measures are in place.

Is Private Registration For A Domain Name Needed If GDPR Is In Place?
For the most part, private registration for a domain name is generally not needed with GDPR in place. If you are registering a domain for personal, non-commercial use, GDPR provides sufficient privacy protection for websites operating within the EU.
However, if you are a business, even with GDPR in effect opting for private domain registration may still be advisable. It can add an extra layer of privacy to protect sensitive information.
It’s worth noting that if you are registering a domain name from outside the EU, your personal information may still be publicly visible in the WHOIS database, making private registration a more relevant option for privacy reasons. Additionally, GDPR requirements and domain registration practices can vary across different providers and registries, and the specific implementation may change over time.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Private registration for a domain name is an added service used to hide a domain name owner’s personal and contact information from view on the WHOIS database regulated by ICANN
- The WHOIS database is the public online repository of registered domain name owners’ personal and contact information.
- Public domain names are available to view by anyone performing a search on the WHOIS database.
- Pros of private domain name registration are increased security and reduced unsolicited contact and spam
- Cons of private domain name registration are additional costs, potential reduction of user trust, and difficulty transferring a domain.
- ICANN has amended its WHOIS regulations to comply with GDPR. User information is redacted to increase privacy.
- Private domain registration is not required for domain registrations within the EU, as GDPR provides sufficient privacy protection Businesses and organizations, and those registering domains from outside the EU, should consider private registration for an extra layer of privacy.
FAQs
Can I use alternative information to register my domain?
No, you need accurate personal information to register your domain. However, some providers offer privacy services that allow you to hide your details.
Is private registration for a domain worth it?
Yes, private registration is worth it. It shields your personal information, reduces spam, and enhances privacy. However, since the enactment of GDPR, it has become less necessary.
How can I make my domain private?
You can speak with your domain provider to register yours as Private. This will add their details to the WHOIS database instead of yours.
How safe is private domain registration?
Private domain registration provides a robust layer of security by hiding personal information from potential attackers.
What is a private domain?
A private domain conceals owner details in WHOIS records, protecting privacy.
How much does private domain registration cost?
The cost of private domain registration varies depending on your provider and how many domains you want to make private.
Other Blogs of Interest:
– What Is A Business Domain & Do You Need One
– What Is .io – And Why You May Want to Use It
– .co vs .com: A Complete Guide to Two Popular Domain Extensions
– Are Hyphens in Domain Names OK for Google?
– Private vs Public Domain Registration: What’s the Difference?
- About the Author
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Rhett isn’t just a writer at Hosted.com – he’s our resident WordPress content guru. With over 6 years of experience as a content writer, with a background in copywriting, journalism, research, and SEO, and a passion for websites.
Rhett authors informative blogs, articles, and Knowledgebase guides that simplify the complexities of WordPress, website builders, domains, and cPanel hosting. Rhett’s clear explanations and practical tips provide valuable resources for anyone wanting to own and build a website. Just don’t ask him about coding before he’s had coffee.