I really don't want my personal information to be associated with some of the domains I'm going to be using. Godaddy will let you put in business information but they charge quite a bit for this, which sort of negates the deal of .99 infos.

How do I hide my personal info on these domains and for servers?

just do a private registration

Use a registrar with privacy protection.

Thanks guys. I just found a deal that lets you have private registration for free if you buy 5 domains at once at godaddy. I'll go with that.

If you already have your info you can change it with domains by proxy, but a person that wants to know can look up the old registration info. The beauty of the net is that nothing ever goes away, it is archived somewhere forever.

dont change it to private. open a new account. Like said just cause you changed it to private doesnt mean you wipe out the info.

This is the very best solution you are looking for :

http://privacyprotect.org/

Now,

Next - if you dont want to use the service listed above there are several other ways. Use Namecheap to register ( a registrar that is under the radar) or other services with fake info - just make sure you can view important info by another email that you designate ... via gmail, msn, yahoo.... etc.


That way you always have access to account password resets and things of that nature.

Next alternative - same account that you have but use false info on that account (change ownership info) - if using godaddy you can even create a new free account with new contact info and transfers names to you account that you will be using for shady activity, Nobody will check info, mine is not accurate on and I have many names. As long as you pay the bill, they are yours. There are also ways such as form a shell company - let the company buy all names. But I suggest the personal methods first because they can easily achieve what you are trying to accomplish.

For those of you that actually think private registration is private..... IT IS NOT. Don't wast you money on this service - granted CO.'s use their promotions to persuade to purchase a service you don't need, the price is generally $9 per year for private reg - and when you have 1000 names and your own renewals only cost $7 per year for that actual name , this is really not worth it. You just more then doubled what everything was costing you out of pocket.

I don't have the article link on hand - but there was a prominent case early this year or late last year proving the fact that private reg can be easily accessed to anyone who inquires. It was some guy that was involved in politics or religion ( don't remember which one as they are equally corrupt) - anyway the website that he was behind was very contradictory to what his public image was and there was a big deal cause the private reg co. gave his information to someone that inquired and exposed him. Moral of the story was the fact that private reg is not actually private.

Since the big question privacy and paper trails...

If you were going to transfer or signup with one of the suggested solutions above how would you pay for it privately??

And what do you do for that ?

Virtual CC ---- look for the thread here on that, you can match the fake name and address with anything you use on the actual account.

In other words, choose an actual address, just not yours.

For the account info in particular (not the CC) ,the domain account, you can use a PO BOX for U.S. , its an actual address and your allowed to use. Obviously you don't need the actual box to receive anything from them so all is well - you meet the need of the registrar providing and address , and your own need for anonymity as the info inst yours.

Good Luck !!

johnathon dough is my name in the registrars

Wouldn't suggest using fake contact details in the event they are contacting you - it's subject to getting your domain removed... unless you don't really care.

buy your domain at namecheap... comes with privacy protect for one year that will hide your private details..

Originally Posted by Harris05

Thanks guys. I just found a deal that lets you have private registration for free if you buy 5 domains at once at godaddy. I'll go with that.

Hi Harris! Would you be so kind in sharing this info - "deal for private regitration for 5 domains once at godaddy" with us? I'm interested and maybe others too.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by bimog

Hi Harris! Would you be so kind in sharing this info - "deal for private regitration for 5 domains once at godaddy" with us? I'm interested and maybe others too.

Thank you!

Sorry! My bad. I misunderstood. I thought you have to register 5 dom at godaddy and then transfer them to another registrar, but no. Godaddy offers this.

If you haven't registered yet, pay attention to select private registration while you are registering. If you have already registered, go to your server account and change the domain configuration.

With private registration you are not the owner of the domain, that is if something happens to you or the company that registered the domain one day is gone your domains will be gone too.

Originally Posted by giantbuddha

Wouldn't suggest using fake contact details in the event they are contacting you - it's subject to getting your domain removed... unless you don't really care.

yea also if they try to steal your domain or etc your outta luck

Originally Posted by Samgreen

With private registration you are not the owner of the domain, that is if something happens to you or the company that registered the domain one day is gone your domains will be gone too.

Thats total nonsense and not true

Originally Posted by caretaker2007

If you already have your info you can change it with domains by proxy, but a person that wants to know can look up the old registration info. The beauty of the net is that nothing ever goes away, it is archived somewhere forever.

How do you look up old info?

Last year I set up as a registrar (sub-registrar to a major white-label registration services outfit). I am the sole client of my registration service.

All of my registrations are private - using a proxy service which is included in the deal - at no extra cost. I get wholesale prices for domains and all the latest deals on offer.

I pay about $7 pa for a dot COM domain - it would be less with more volume.

Although I can get other TLDs much cheaper (INFO for $2), I no longer do so because I'm convinced by experience and testing that Google favours COM in its algorithms and disses INFO. BTW you should register for a minimum of two years if you value Google rankings - it boosts your trust factor.

The registration execution is totally automated and 100% flawless in operation to date - comprising creation and transfer of about 50 domains.

It took me several hours to set it all up and it's probably not worth the effort if you have less than (say) 20 domains but I love the independence and efficiency of instant service under my own control.

One advantage of being your own registrar is that in the event of a complaint about a domain, there is no registrar to shut you down. With your registrar's hat on you could blandly reassure the complainer that you will look into it and will sanction the offender in spades if the complaint is valid - move on at your leisure - and eventaully report back to the complainant that you have shut down that wicked SOB!!! Simillar to having a reseller account at your host - you are a buffer running interference for yourself!!

Another advantage is that I can enquire about a domain name's availability without it being snatched on spec by some unscrupulous registrar. I've read that happens a lot - dunno the truth of it.

If you want to be really paranoid you use false ID and anonymous payments (or in my case simply set up fictitous offshore clients). I haven't got that paranoid yet because my BH activities are still small and very careful. A couple of early Google sandboxings got my attention!!

In my experience, companies are wonderful for limited liability protection (essential for any serious business) but not really effective as an identity veil. Low profile remains the best defense.

Something else you might also want to consider is hosting outside your country of residence. Makes no difference to your operations but might save you a world of hurt in the event of a dispute.

I also buy my .com domains at namecheap (they are $8.7* with a coupon) and you get private registration for one year. (Lord knows how much they will be to renew next year.. lol)

On some cheapo .info names, I use my post office box (from the next town over.. call me paranoid) and put only my first and last initials and use an email that I use everyday. The phone is the one from my last apartment which doesnt work anymore. Hope I'm not breaking any laws by trying to be stealthy.

just do a private registration is right!Still I hate the extra cost on my domain registering each reneal time ..

Originally Posted by brownhatter

just do a private registration is right!Still I hate the extra cost on my domain registering each reneal time ..

I always take the privacy option (even for white hat sites) to stop Spammers harvesting my email address. Plenty of registrars offer free privacy - Netfirms is efficient and cheap.

GoDaddy is expensive when you add in the cost of necessary extras like privacy. There are other disadvantages too, but not relevant to this thread.

Originally Posted by Harris05

I really don't want my personal information to be associated with some of the domains I'm going to be using. Godaddy will let you put in business information but they charge quite a bit for this, which sort of negates the deal of .99 infos.

How do I hide my personal info on these domains and for servers?

Depends what you want to hide the domain info for. If it's to hide it from Google then privacy protection won't be enough as Google, being a top-level registrar, can bypass the whois, afaik, and get to the actual registration info. You'd either have to use fake info and a throwaway email (risky if you plan on using the domain for any time) or, you could layer in protection via companies - e.g. domain is owned by company A which is owned by Company B which is owned by Company C, etc.

I use and have been using 1and1.c0m to register all my domains for the last several years with absolutely zero problems.

All domains come with free private registration if you want it... Even upon renewal.

filmy

Originally Posted by CPUGEEK

How do you look up old info?

http://whois.domaintools.com

Originally Posted by designer

This is the very best solution you are looking for :

http://privacyprotect.org/
For those of you that actually think private registration is private..... IT IS NOT. Don't wast you money on this service - granted CO.'s use their promotions to persuade to purchase a service you don't need, the price is generally $9 per year for private reg - and when you have 1000 names and your own renewals only cost $7 per year for that actual name , this is really not worth it. You just more then doubled what everything was costing you out of pocket.

I don't have the article link on hand - but there was a prominent case early this year or late last year proving the fact that private reg can be easily accessed to anyone who inquires. It was some guy that was involved in politics or religion ( don't remember which one as they are equally corrupt) - anyway the website that he was behind was very contradictory to what his public image was and there was a big deal cause the private reg co. gave his information to someone that inquired and exposed him. Moral of the story was the fact that private reg is not actually private.

Since the big question privacy and paper trails...

If you were going to transfer or signup with one of the suggested solutions above how would you pay for it privately??

And what do you do for that ?

Virtual CC ---- look for the thread here on that, you can match the fake name and address with anything you use on the actual account.

In other words, choose an actual address, just not yours.

For the account info in particular (not the CC) ,the domain account, you can use a PO BOX for U.S. , its an actual address and your allowed to use. Obviously you don't need the actual box to receive anything from them so all is well - you meet the need of the registrar providing and address , and your own need for anonymity as the info inst yours.

designer is right definitely that if your registrar is based or has an entity based in the US, your registration is not private no matter what they say -- 1&1 WILL NOT KEEP YOUR INFO PRIVATE, NOT GODADDY NONE OF THEM -- it doesn't matter what they promise: they get one verbal or written threat of being sued and they will give them your info at the drop of a hat. It is far more worth it to them to save $$ and avoid legal fights than spend all those dollars to keep their promise and stand up for one paltry domain registrant. I speak from experience with 1and1 -- they are a sham. and I have known others using godaddy's privacy service that had the same experience. you're not worth it to them. it's just a marketing tool and a way for them to make money not a legal protection to you.

and if the registrar has your personal info from the PAYMENT method (forget fake other stuff), that is what they give to the person who threatens legal action -- it doesn't even have to be a lawyer who threatens them -- merely someone anyone who says "My attorney will be suing you if you don't give their contact information to me NOW" -- that is all it takes I swear to you.

so now I am trying to learn too: just how to get around these obvious NON-protections.

I need to know more about offshore domain registrations and reseller programs as a tool and strategy for managing many domains or bulk domain registrations and re-registrations. anyone know much about this?

also, i know netfirms is based in canada and they have a free privacy option too but i don't know what their terms are if they are given the same threats from US based persons, corporations, lawyers, law enforcement. i'm not doing or advocating anything illegal at all--and those things vary by state in US (promoting adult porn in one state might be but not in another for example). but does anyone here know about canada domain regisration issues? and can i post an affiliate link to netfirms for anyone who might want to get a link for a discounted price on a domain name ?

anyways, i'm learning all this still but really need to figure out where I can find an ideal reseller plan (or bulk registration/transfer if that's cheaper) based in a safe, secure, HONEST, non-theiving, non-US, (non-china/russia based on what I've heard/read) which would be a buffer so to speak and a way to stealthily register/transfer/renew lots of domains that we gotta move away from 1&1 ASAP.

will go thru your affiliate link if it's the right set up, price, solution, etc.

I would guess I'm not the only one seeking this kind of solution?

appreciate hearing from someone who actually has done this same thing. I want to do soon but I need to analyze and ideally hear from others who have faced this dilemma -- or if you know where I can find that discussion if it's elsewhere but I figured this is the best place based on how I've found so many smart and talented pros here. I'll also be happy to refer others to the winning solution(s) from other groups where we're all having the same kind of issues and quandaries.

I looked at myorderbox*com and although that's in india, it is a horrible interface that I can't stand to use -- overly complex, plus you have to use paypal and I'm not sure yet it's totally legit (honest). again, solutions from actual similar type experiences most welcome.

Originally Posted by smackhatworld

designer is right definitely that if your registrar is based or has an entity based in the US, your registration is not private no matter what they say -- 1&1 WILL NOT KEEP YOUR INFO PRIVATE, NOT GODADDY NONE OF THEM -- it doesn't matter what they promise: they get one verbal or written threat of being sued and they will give them your info at the drop of a hat. It is far more worth it to them to save $$ and avoid legal fights than spend all those dollars to keep their promise and stand up for one paltry domain registrant. I speak from experience with 1and1 -- they are a sham. and I have known others using godaddy's privacy service that had the same experience. you're not worth it to them. it's just a marketing tool and a way for them to make money not a legal protection to you.

and if the registrar has your personal info from the PAYMENT method (forget fake other stuff), that is what they give to the person who threatens legal action -- it doesn't even have to be a lawyer who threatens them -- merely someone anyone who says "My attorney will be suing you if you don't give their contact information to me NOW" -- that is all it takes I swear to you.

so now I am trying to learn too: just how to get around these obvious NON-protections.

I need to know more about offshore domain registrations and reseller programs as a tool and strategy for managing many domains or bulk domain registrations and re-registrations. anyone know much about this?

also, i know netfirms is based in canada and they have a free privacy option too but i don't know what their terms are if they are given the same threats from US based persons, corporations, lawyers, law enforcement. i'm not doing or advocating anything illegal at all--and those things vary by state in US (promoting adult porn in one state might be but not in another for example). but does anyone here know about canada domain regisration issues? and can i post an affiliate link to netfirms for anyone who might want to get a link for a discounted price on a domain name ?

anyways, i'm learning all this still but really need to figure out where I can find an ideal reseller plan (or bulk registration/transfer if that's cheaper) based in a safe, secure, HONEST, non-theiving, non-US, (non-china/russia based on what I've heard/read) which would be a buffer so to speak and a way to stealthily register/transfer/renew lots of domains that we gotta move away from 1&1 ASAP.

will go thru your affiliate link if it's the right set up, price, solution, etc.

I would guess I'm not the only one seeking this kind of solution?

appreciate hearing from someone who actually has done this same thing. I want to do soon but I need to analyze and ideally hear from others who have faced this dilemma -- or if you know where I can find that discussion if it's elsewhere but I figured this is the best place based on how I've found so many smart and talented pros here. I'll also be happy to refer others to the winning solution(s) from other groups where we're all having the same kind of issues and quandaries.

I looked at myorderbox*com and although that's in india, it is a horrible interface that I can't stand to use -- overly complex, plus you have to use paypal and I'm not sure yet it's totally legit (honest). again, solutions from actual similar type experiences most welcome.

"myorderbox" is the name for a user interface provided by ResellerClub*com which is a subsidiary of DirectI in India.

I have used them for domain registration and DNS management since August 2007 with no problems. The system is automated and 100% reliable to date.

The RC user interface IS a bit clunky and it took me quite a bit of work and study to get it all set up. So this solution is NOT for the lazy or helpless. But it does work fine once you get used to it.

You can sign up as your own sub-registrar or even sub-sub-sub etc. This means you can add buffers between complaint and action. Also it is you that is vetting the sub-account application - so you can be pretty lax if you so choose!!

The privacy option is free and the agent is based in Holland, if I remember right. I can't swear to it's effectiveness as I've never needed to test it. I use "privacy option" as an anti-spam device mainly.

Real privacy is to be a "phony" client of your own registrar set up. (Read that again - it's the key to happiness).

Paypal is not the only payment option but it is the one I have used for convenience. The easiest way is just to pay a lump sum in advance and then you get instant registrations. If you really want to be anonymous (as Master registrar) you have to pay cash (Money Order?) and use a another name.

However, payment method is really only relevant for the Master registrar.
Because if you are your own client no money has to change hands at all - the Master registrar can just give his client a credit to his account and record that it was cash or money order or a contra for kind, whatever. So long as ResellerClub get paid by the Master registrar they don't care how he gets paid.

I suggest a client address outside the USA - true or false, nobody is going to use it for anything much but it can be really discouraging for a lawyer to see an address in Indonesia!! Their legal system is so corrupt it's a joke. A hijacked real address (not your own) is interesting because it checks out - and creates a smoke screen - but that might be illegal where you live so I cannot advise it as an option!

RC web hosting support sucks BTW but they do offer the option of hosting in India or USA - which is interesting if you want to hold "iffy" stuff offshore.

I also use RC for some email as they do allow catchall addresses which is handy for setting up splog farms etc.

The great advantage of India is if you were an ambulance chasing lawyer, would you start a speculative lawsuit there? Not so likely I would imagine. Too many uncertainties - different legal system, timezones, travel costs, corruption, etc.

If you want to try it out my RC reseller account is hxxp://4mostdomains*com/login.php?action=signup

Use a disposable email address and mail me on rc at 4mostip.com
- but don't look to me for much support beyond the ample site documentation provided. It's an automated system not a nanny state.

We can talk discounts if and when I know you are serious. And I have a US bank account if you want to send anonymous payments to it.

PS I have also used Netfirms and found them efficient for registration although their hosting wasn't much good. Can't speak for their confidentiality but Canada is a little close to home for US residents......and vulnerable to pressure by US feds. Whereas India couldn't give a shit about the USA.

PPS If you are being really naughty and fear being sued then offshore incorporation might be a smart idea too.

Steve1943 thanks for the review.. found it usefull
To bad the thanks button's not working

what do you mean the thank you button is not working? it's working for me...

anyway, back to the topic - http://www.cheapdomainswithprivacy.info works fine for me (privacy is free), but after reading above I think they may also only be a reseller - well I don't care at the end, as long as I get what I want and I can pay via moneybookers and not just paypal, it is quite save for privacy/security (and I use a """pen name + address""" too this way I got another layers of security - just be clever )

and Steve1943: you wrote you signed up as registrar, how much was it? or was it only as reseller? if so, there's no real buffer between you and spam-complaints (found this out the hard way unfortunately ) - only if you were an ICANN registrar, you would be the buffer - but then you would need heaps of money to set it up - do you think the major vlagra spammers are their own registrars? just curious...

in dynadot you can separate your own private info from the whois info

Originally Posted by dddd

what do you mean the thank you button is not working? it's working for me...

anyway, back to the topic - http://www.cheapdomainswithprivacy.info works fine for me (privacy is free), but after reading above I think they may also only be a reseller - well I don't care at the end, as long as I get what I want and I can pay via moneybookers and not just paypal, it is quite save for privacy/security (and I use a """pen name + address""" too this way I got another layers of security - just be clever )

and Steve1943: you wrote you signed up as registrar, how much was it? or was it only as reseller? if so, there's no real buffer between you and spam-complaints (found this out the hard way unfortunately ) - only if you were an ICANN registrar, you would be the buffer - but then you would need heaps of money to set it up - do you think the major vlagra spammers are their own registrars? just curious...

Just a subregistrar to DirectI (Public Domakin Registry) and you are right that nobody can shield a domain from spam complaints. ISPs universally cover their asses with a 'guilty until proven innocent' policy.
I don't spam so it's not an issue for me.
Maybe the way forward there might be to set up as a hosting resller with a phoney client? Your domain would still get shut down but you should hopefully escape blacklisting.

My own concerns are more about privacy and not getting sued over intellectual property issues or advice given in content websites.

Domains are disposable but my personal assets are'nt! I speak from experience.

PS Don't the viagra spammers just hijack third party servers?

I know what you mean (re: assets / domains) - like said, I use three layers for the registration alone (fake data + the fake data hidden through privacy + registered through reseller-account as "one of my customers" ), and it has worked out quite well so far, can't think of way more besides creating a legal entity on the bahamas for every project, but costs are something to take into account if you go this way - depends on the project & profit though

Register your domain in Sweden. You can register .com and any domain you want. In Sweden they have a telesecretess law which means that a crime must have been commited that can give 2 years or more in prison for them to reveal any information regarding the parson behind a site or an IP number. And that's only for crimes commited in Sweden. Crimes commited in other contries the Swedish authorities doesn't have any juristrictions for and it's almost impossible to get out any information. Remember.. The telesecretessy law counts every possible communication like post, mail, phonecalls, Internet traffic etc and if a provider breaks the information without having a court order to do so they are in deep shit since they just have broken a law that can put them in prison for several years. Why do you think that the worlds biggest torrent site (TPB) is hosted in Sweden? And the Hollywood lobbyists have tried for years to get a change of the law in Sweden so they can hunt pirates but havn't had any success yet and I don't think they ever will.. Privacy is just more important and if not commiting a serious crime that can give one more then two year in prison according to Swedish laws it's no chance in hell anyone will ever get out any info abut you. Also.. I think it's only net frauds where you actually steal someones money that can put one in jail for that long time. Regular mail spamming which is illegal in US and also in Sweden dos not as in US bring one to jail. Just as an example.

one thing to remember is most private domain registrars will turn your info over if you draw any heat.. I had this one registrar back in the day that did egold or some shit, and pretty much stayed transparent, and pricing was like 9 bucks a year or something so not bad. wish I remembered their url for ya bud, but google egold domain or whatever and im sure you will find something.

namecheap.com offers whois guard. not sure how good it is tho...


tsp

also you could always use a prepaid/vcc to purchase it and use bogus info - but one thing to consider is you could potentially lose your domain by using obvious bogus info, pick a random name out of the yellow pages and change the number by a digit.

Originally Posted by yuemyutu

If you haven't registered yet, pay attention to select private registration while you are registering. If you have already registered, go to your server account and change the domain configuration.

Not to restate a reply, but this is exactly what i was going to suggest

You don't.

Your original regisration is cached all over the net.

Makes no difference if you chagne it now.

Originally Posted by Uptownbulker

You don't.

Your original regisration is cached all over the net.

Makes no difference if you chagne it now.

That's a major lesson to ponder.
EVERYTHING you publish on the net is cached semi-permanently.
So think about tracks from the get go.

Best I can suggest now is to register a new domain under a pen name/address (behind privacy option but understanding the limits such privacy options). Then transfer your old domain to the new domain owner - put 301 redirects on old domain pointing to new domain.

Always a good idea to have an alternate domain name pointing to your content. Just in case the original domain is ever compromised or hijacked.

But remember that your content may betray traces to your ID (article author links; copyright statements, monetization trail etc etc).

Privacy requires a plan from the ground up. And the toughest part is how to anonymously extract the cash without the solution costing more than the problem. Offshore corporate veils do NOT come cheap.

Serious investigators follow the money trail.

Originally Posted by Harris05

I really don't want my personal information to be associated with some of the domains I'm going to be using. Godaddy will let you put in business information but they charge quite a bit for this, which sort of negates the deal of .99 infos.

How do I hide my personal info on these domains and for servers?

Use "Whois Guard" when you register your domain. Most registrars charge for this service. I am now using NameCheap, partly because they offer free whois guard and partly because they have good domain prices.

This is a great service for protecting your identity in the whois database.

Enjoy!

Fake info is free!

Originally Posted by Scott-NYC

Use "Whois Guard" when you register your domain. Most registrars charge for this service. I am now using NameCheap, partly because they offer free whois guard and partly because they have good domain prices.

This is a great service for protecting your identity in the whois database.

Enjoy!

Whois Guard and Private Registration is great for most purposes, however, for many of the users in this forum, there is a SERIOUS need for SERIOUS privacy. Can't get that with guarding information and/or privatization services...

The best way to go is the VCC route. For public domain information, I list a real (drop box) address in a country like China or Russia... When you make your registration information "private", it just looks suspicious to most people (and adding full "whois" information makes you look trustworthy, which may translate into more sales), plus any company such as (g00gle and micr0s0ft) can simply ask your registrar for your information (happened to me once, with micr0s0ft!)... these companies will get what they ask for (no warrant needed) because they usually have more clout than you.

Many people are concerned about how to deal with email issues (ie, which email to use when adding public domain information)? The best way is to use an email created directly from the domain and then have the email forwarded to another email account (a public one like yahoo). For example, if your site is xyz.com, then you can create an email like admin@xyz.com. Anyone needing to contact you can contact you directly and you won't be revealing any private information.

hey i have a related question if anyone knows. This one expired domain I forgot to do whois guard. Is there any way to get who to take off my information because I don't want it to show up when people google my name. It's not that it's bad or anything. I just want to be untraceable to a certain extent.

So if anyone know how to get it taken down, let me know please.

Thanks

To those who are saying changing it now doesn't making a different, it does actually. All the Who Is sites that give out cached info don't do it for free. They charge for it. Domain Tools is one example. So it still protects your info from most of the people trying to look at your who is information.

Try signing up the domains with domains by proxy dot com. You can also try to use some filler information, with a name that is not your own, and some phony number, and then probably your real po box address or the malls address.

Strange how so many people thought they had a bright idea they just had to share, about checking the "private registration" box on their order forms. It has been written plenty of times already... not to mention it has also been written plenty of times that THEY ARE NOT ACTUALLY PRIVATE when someone decides to ask for your info, and drop the 'S' word (sue) in the same sentence.

Ignorance really must be bliss. "I can't get sued, I checked GoDaddy's box and paid them $8.99. $8.99 should be enough to cover their legal expenses of defending my domain in court, right? I'm going to Wal-Mart."