Do I need a domain privacy service?
You already have it, it is free, and it is on by default. There is nothing to buy and, on most domains, nothing to set up.
Every domain registered with us uses our WHOIS privacy at no extra cost. Your domain still appears in the public WHOIS database, but our details are listed as the registrant rather than yours - so anyone looking your domain up sees us, not your name, address or phone number.
Isn't everything hidden anyway these days?
Partly, and less than people assume. Data-protection rules mean registrars now withhold a good deal of personal information from public WHOIS lookups, but that is not the same as everything being hidden:
- A contactable email address or web form is always published - that requirement has not gone away.
- If a domain is registered to an organisation rather than a person, the organisation name is generally still published.
- What gets withheld varies by registrar and by where you are. It is a set of rules registrars apply, not a blanket switch.
Our privacy service goes further, because it replaces the registrant details rather than simply withholding some of them.
.uk domains work differently
.uk domains - including .co.uk and .org.uk - are run by Nominet under its own rules, so none of the above applies to them. Nominet offers a free opt-out that keeps your address off its WHOIS service, with two important limits:
- It is only available if the registrant is an individual representing themselves. It is not available to companies, and not if the domain is used for business or trade.
- It hides your address. Your name is still shown.
If you qualify, this is set up for you automatically - there is nothing to request and nothing to pay. You can see how your domain is recorded in your client area, using our guide on checking and updating your domain's contact details.
One exception: .eco
.eco domains have their own activation process with the registry, and privacy is handled differently for them. If you have a .eco, see how to register a .eco domain.
Keep your details accurate either way
Privacy hides your details from the public. It does not exempt you from having to hold accurate ones - the registry still requires them, and a domain whose details cannot be verified can be suspended. See Domain ownership verification for what that involves.
