# 4 Big Reasons Why Domain Name Privacy Is Worth It + (Get It For Free) Here are 4 main reasons why you should get domain name privacy. Also, since you can get it for free, there is no reason to not register for domain privacy. Author: Abhijit Rawool Source: https://abhijitrawool.com/is-domain-name-privacy-worth-it/ Published: 2019-08-19T18:57:47Z Updated: 2020-03-21T12:59:19Z So, you have found your perfect domain name, and you have just registered it. You have also given your contact details to the domain registrar. Have you checked which of those details are publicly visible? You can check publicly available registration details using [ICANN Lookup](https://lookup.icann.org/en). Some personal information may already be redacted under applicable rules, while the details shown depend on the registrar, domain extension, and privacy service. This can cause problems for some people when it comes to something as insidious as spam, for example. This is when domain name privacy comes into the picture. So is Domain Name Privacy worth it? Domain Name privacy is worthwhile and should definitely be considered to reduce the risk of your contact details falling in the wrong hands. Not only that, but Domain Name Privacy is also a good idea for plenty of other reasons. And in this small guide, we will talk about all the benefits of using Domain Name Privacy. So keep reading… But first… ## Why Use A Domain Name Privacy? When you sign up to buy a domain, you need to mention your correct personal details, such as your contact number, email address, real name, and so on. What some people don’t realize is that some registration information can be publicly available. ICANN’s registration lookup uses RDAP, the replacement for traditional WHOIS, and shows the public information supplied by the registrar or registry. A privacy or proxy service can help keep personal contact details out of public results. [ICANN explains the available privacy options and redaction of registration data](https://www.icann.org/en/contracted-parties/consensus-policies/registration-data-reminder-policy/faqs-domain-name-registrant-contact-information-and-icanns-registration-data-reminder-policy-rdrp-25-02-2012-en). Now, some people don’t really worry too much about putting this kind of information online. They think that they have nothing to hide and they are not doing anything illegal, so it doesn’t matter who has access to their details. But, in a world where we are being surveilled more often, and our right to privacy is being eroded continuously, we probably should care a lot more! So here are some excellent reasons for getting Domain Name Privacy… ## 1\. Domain Name Privacy Helps To Eliminate Spam Spam and junk mail is a massive problem for a lot of people. This is why many people choose to hide their identity in the online world, or at least their real name and personal contact details. It makes sense then that you would also want to protect your personal information from prying eyes when you register a new domain name. Given the amount of spam, malware, and junk mail that so many people have to deal with daily, hiding your contact details and cutting down on the spam seems like a really wise idea. The other issue is that bots can automatically scan the Whois database for fresh leads and build up a huge list of email addresses, names, and other personal details. Your details will likely end up on a list that gets resold for profit to junk mailing third parties around the world. Domain Name Privacy can reduce this exposure by keeping personal contact details out of public results. It cannot prevent every source of spam, and the registrar still needs accurate registration details. ## 2\. Domain Name Privacy Helps To Stop Stalkers It’s not a problem for everyone, but women, in particular, may be sensitive to this issue. Unfortunately, what we do online is not private for the most part. If someone wants to find you and find out where you live and work, they have all sorts of online resources available. So, why would you give these people one more way to find you? Whether you have a hostile ex or a stalker who is trying to flirt aggressively with you, it’s a good idea not to give them your personal details freely. Even if you don’t have a problem now, you might have one in the future because you just never know who you will run into online. It’s not always a safe world, so don’t risk it. Getting a Domain Name Privacy is totally worth it in this case. ## 3\. Domain Name Privacy Helps To Deal With Online Competition If you run an online business and you have some niche websites registered, the last thing you want is to reveal what they are to your competition. Lots of people make good money from websites that rank highly in the search engines and giving this information easily to the competition is a bad idea. When your online competition can look up your details in the Whois database, they can also find out what other sites you have registered. This can give them all the information they need to compete with you in your niche businesses. Domain Name Privacy helps to keep such competitors away from you and your business. ## 4\. Domain Name Privacy Helps To Stop Shady Behavior Cybersquatters and online criminals may try to grab an attractive domain name from you if you have one. They do this because acquiring a high-value domain name is big business for such people. How they do this? What they often do is use your personal registration details from the Whois database to hijack your domain if you are not careful. They can try to use your real email address for transferring your domain to their name. Domain Name Privacy can reduce exposure of your contact details, but it does not stop every attempt to steal a domain. Use a strong registrar password, multi-factor authentication, and a transfer lock as well. Okay! I guess you have got enough reasons now to understand that Domain Name Privacy is worth it. So now the million-dollar question… ## How Do You Get A Domain Name Privacy? When you are registering your domain name, you will see an option to register for Domain Privacy too. Nowadays, many domain registrars provide Domain Name Privacy for free. Refer this [domain name registration guide](/how-to-register-a-domain-name/) to learn how you can get a Domain Name Privacy for free. **Recommended Further Reading:** - [Are Domain Names Case Sensitive? Answer Is Yes And No – Here’s Why](/are-domain-names-case-sensitive/) However, not all domain name registrars might offer Domain Privacy for free. But even if it costs a little extra, you should absolutely consider paying for it. Another thing I would like to point out is that some registrars won’t offer Domain Name Privacy protection with certain domain names. These are often top-level country domain names, like .co.uk, .com.au, .in, etc. So while registering your domain name keep an eye out for Domain Name Privacy as well because… ## Domain Name Privacy Protection Is Well Worth It! In the early days of the web, the whole idea of privacy protection probably seemed a bit strange. After all, there weren’t that many people online, and it was a different online culture back then. Just having your own domain name was special and not all that common! However, things have changed drastically in recent years, and identity theft, domain name hijacking, and spam are all big threats online. So it makes perfect sense to protect your online identity and keep a barrier between your online life and your real life. I hope this small guide has helped you to understand the benefits of Domain Name Privacy. And if you found this information useful, then please share it with your friends and family. I will genuinely appreciate it.