[LuluG]

Hi, I am just looking into web hosting, domain names etc. and have been advised that I may want to buy WHOIS privacy dependent on which domain name I go for. I had a look at the WHOIS website and see that they only cover .com, .org etc rather than .co.uk etc. If I went for one of these extensions, I would definitely buy WHOIS privacy.

However, I am thinking of going for .co.uk. Is there an equivalent to WHOIS which covers this and is there any way people can get my personal information is I opt for a .co.uk domain name?

[Spitfire]

Provided you but the domain through a half decent registrar, you should have the option to opt-out of the WHOIS for any domain ending in .uk for free.

http://www.nominet.o...ta/whoisoptout/

[Renaissance-Design]

Bear in mind that if yhe site's for commercial purposes or displays any ads it's ineligible for WHOIS privacy.

[LuluG]

Thanks for the replies. Also thanks for the useful link, Spitfire. I didn't think WHOIS kept info re .co.uk addresses? When I tried a few, it didn't accept them.

There won't be any ads and I don't think we would qualify as commercial, Renaissance. We are just a creative group who want to encourage people to join the group by telling them about us, showing some images. Would that be classes as commercial?

[wesh.co.uk]

Hiya LuluG

You can show ad's on a hidden website, as Nominets terms states that it would need to be a business/commercial website that cannot hide the WHOIS info.

You can be as creative as you like, and hide the WHOIS, up to the point where to start selling goods or services (Regardless of profit)

This post has been edited by wesh.co.uk: 16 January 2012 - 06:07 PM

[LuluG]

Thanks for your post.

[othelloRob]

LuluG, on 16 January 2012 - 05:21 PM, said:

I had a look at the WHOIS website and see that they only cover .com, .org etc rather than .co.uk etc

Then you're looking at the wrong website

The definitive way to check WHOIS details is at the _registry_ for the ccTLD/gTLD concerned, not some random-3rd-party site.

www.nic.uk for Nominet for .co.uk domains for example

LuluG, on 16 January 2012 - 05:21 PM, said:

If I went for one of these extensions, I would definitely buy WHOIS privacy.

Why ? What do you think attempting to hide your ownership of the domain will accomplish for you ?

LuluG, on 16 January 2012 - 05:21 PM, said:

is there any way people can get my personal information is I opt for a .co.uk domain name?

You can choose to "opt out" your personal details from the public view of the WHOIS on a .uk *unless* the domain is used for commercial reasons - so if this is a "business" or you are directly making money from the use of the domain, a simple email to Nominet by anyone will have you "opted" back in and your details will show up.

[LuluG]

othelloRob, on 21 January 2012 - 06:55 PM, said:

Then you're looking at the wrong website

The definitive way to check WHOIS details is at the _registry_ for the ccTLD/gTLD concerned, not some random-3rd-party site.

www.nic.uk for Nominet for .co.uk domains for example


Why ? What do you think attempting to hide your ownership of the domain will accomplish for you ?


You can choose to "opt out" your personal details from the public view of the WHOIS on a .uk *unless* the domain is used for commercial reasons - so if this is a "business" or you are directly making money from the use of the domain, a simple email to Nominet by anyone will have you "opted" back in and your details will show up.

Thanks for your post, and the link for Nominet. As you suggested, I think I was looking at a 3rd party site.

I simply don't want my personal details 'out there'.

We are going for a .com address so there is no option to opt out.