Understanding Domain Privacy Protection

Knowledgebase Article

Understanding Domain Privacy Protection

When you register a domain, you're required to provide accurate contact details—your name, email, address, and phone number. This isn't some bureaucratic red tape; it's actually an important rule set by ICANN, the global domain authority. If these details are incorrect, you risk losing your domain.

But here’s the catch: By default, these details are published in a public WHOIS database, which is basically a goldmine for spammers, marketers, and worse—identity thieves.

Privacy Protection acts as your digital shield. Instead of showing your personal details to the world, it replaces them with alternative information, keeping your inbox and phone free from spam, and your identity safe.

🇪🇺 GDPR & UK Privacy: Do You Still Need It?

If you're in the UK or the EU, GDPR has your back—your personal details are hidden by default. So, do you even need Privacy Protection?

Actually, it still has a great benefit: With Privacy Protection enabled, people can contact you through a secure form without seeing your actual details. This means legitimate inquiries can still reach you, but your personal contact info stays hidden.

If you're outside the UK or EU, privacy protection remains strongly recommended.

🛡 How Privacy Protection Works

For a small fee to cover the cost of the service, Privacy Protection swaps out your contact details for anonymised ones.

So, instead of looking like this:

John Smith
Your Company Name Ltd.
71 Cleveland Street
Bristol
BS23 1XZ
United Kingdom

Email: your.personal.email@gmail.com
Phone: +44 (0)117 000 1234

Your WHOIS record will now look something like this:

Privacy Protection Service, Inc.
C/O ID#10760
PO Box 16
Nobby Beach
QLD 4218
Australia

Email: contact@privacyprotect.org
Phone: +61 (0)123 456 7891

Anyone trying to reach you will be directed to a secure contact form instead of your inbox. This ensures that genuine inquiries still get through, but spammers and scammers don’t.

✅ Why Enable Privacy Protection?

✔ Keeps your personal details private
✔ Stops spam and unwanted emails
✔ Reduces the risk of identity theft
✔ Protects against domain hijacking
✔ Gives you a secure way to receive legitimate inquiries

So, if you like the idea of less spam, more security, and keeping your personal details off the internet, Privacy Protection is an easy win.

17 Updating Your Nameservers

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