Domain privacy protection is necessary if privacy is important to you. It becomes worth it because it protects your personal information by hiding certain sensitive information when you register for a domain.

Some other benefits of domain privacy protection is the prevention of SPAM or SCAM emails and UNWANTED solicitations.

What is Domain Privacy Protection?

Domain privacy protection is a service provided by WHOIS privacy protection.

Domain registrars are business that handles the reservation of domain names and they offer domain privacy protection through WHOIS privacy protection.

A user buys privacy from the company, who in turn replaces the user’s information in the WHOIS with the information of a forwarding service (for email and sometimes postal mail, it is done by a proxy server).

What is the Use of Domain Privacy?

When you purchase a domain from a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy (or any other registrar), they are required to report specific bits of information about you for public record.

All domains need to have contact information (ex. address, email address) associated with that domain and that is stored in a database called the WHOIS database.

When people search for your blog or website in the WHOIS database and you do not have domain privacy, you will receive alot of SPAM EMAILS, SCAM EMAILS, and UNWANTED solicitations.

When you get domain privacy, you can hide that public information in the WHOIS database and it is replaced with proxy information.

Why the WHOIS Directory Exists

The WHOIS directory exists to make sure there’s a clear record of domains of website owners on the web.

That’s important for cases where a website owner is engaging in illegal activity or abuses their power.

If the WHOIS directory did not exist, then authorities would not be able to hold website owners accountable or minimize harm done because there would be no record or means to find offenders.

Specifically, the WHOIS directory comes into play when:

Law enforcement agencies need help tracking down suspects in crimes committed online, or where key evidence is found online.
Businesses or lawyers seek to identify people guilty of stealing or misusing intellectual property, such as plagiarists or people who use images they don’t have the rights for.
Internet companies want to limit the power of people guilty of spam or other nuisances or malicious behavior online.

Benefits of Domain Privacy Protection

Even if you don’t have a problem knowing your address and nothing to hide, WHOIS privacy is beneficial for the following reasons:

Control spam and junk snail mail.
Hide your website from competitors doing market research.
Prevent firms from capturing your information to resell to others.
Avoid stalkers and fraudsters.
Control your personal information and privacy. Do you really want everyone online knowing your address?

How Do I Find My Domain Privacy?

If you wanted to find your domain privacy protection information or wanted to look up your contact details, then all you would need to do is search the WHOIS records using your domain name.

Can I Add Domain Privacy Later?

You can add domain privacy to your domain at a later date.

However, if you didn’t add domain privacy protection immediately after getting your domain, then your information will be posted publicly.

How Much Does Domain Privacy Cost?

Domain privacy protection costs vary depending on the provider. However, it’s not too expensive.

The price can range anywhere from $10 to $40 a year.

For example, HostGator customers can get domain privacy protection for $14.95 while Bluehost customers can get it for $11.88 a year.

Click HERE for more information on Bluehost.

Conclusion

Is Domain Privacy worth the cost? Yes.

If blogging or having a website anonymously or not wanting some of your personal information out there is important to you, then domain privacy is worth the cost. It’s very affordable.

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Is Domain Privacy Protection Necessary?