WHOIS Privacy FAQ

Question:

What is WHOIS Privacy?

Answer:

WHOIS Privacy is a service which can be added to your domain name. When a domain name is registered, your personal information is attached to the domain name and is visible to the public. The WHOIS Privacy service updates your domain name with generic information, protecting your identity. Parties wishing to contact you may do so through an intermediary address at www.contactprivacy.com. Your personal information will never be made available.

Question:

What domain name extensions (TLDs) are eligible for WHOIS Privacy?

Answer:

WHOIS Privacy is available for .com, .net, .org, .info and .biz domain names.

Question:

How do I enable WHOIS Privacy for my domain name?

Answer:

To enable WHOIS Privacy for your domain name, you may purchase it through our Control Panel. The charge for this service is $2 per domain name per year. You can enable WHOIS Privacy for each and every domain name you have registered through HostMySite. Once purchased, you will receive an email from TuCows requesting verification. Once you complete the verification process, your domain name information will be updated.

Question:

What information is displayed for my domain name?

Answer:

The information displayed is related to www.contactprivacy.com, the company responsible for providing the WHOIS Privacy service. An email address is created using the format domainname.com@contactprivacy.com. Messages sent to this email address are forwarded by contactprivacy.com to the email address originally assigned to the domain name.

Question:

Can I display my own information for my domain name?

Answer:

No, the information displayed must be displayed exactly as shown to satisfy ICANN regulations and to ensure that the public has the information they require to contact you if necessary. If a party does attempt to contact you, they will be directed to an email address related to www.contactprivacy.com. The message is then forwarded to you.

Question:

Do I still have ownership of my domain name?

Answer:

Yes, you still have ownership of your domain name after WHOIS Privacy is enabled. The WHOIS Privacy service protects your identity, it does not change the owner of the domain name.