Web-hosting companies offer a variety of services, including those like private domain registration at Register.com. One of the first things you do when you set up a website or blog is create and register your domain name. When a site owner registers their domain, they’re legally required by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, to provide their personal information, which is then stored in a database called WHOIS. This information is viewable to anyone who cares to search for it. The option of registering a domain as private offers an affordable way for site owners and bloggers to protect their personal information when registering their domain.
Private domain registration offers the following benefits:
- Protects your personal information from data miners, spammers and telemarketers
- Hides your home address from strangers
- Decreases your risk of identity theft
Is it worth the extra cost to ensure the integrity of your personal information? Some would say that the peace of mind alone is worth any price. However, there are some advantages to remaining public, and there are ways around the problem of disclosing your home address and phone number to the general public.
Registering your domain as public or private also depends on the purpose of your website or blog. If you’re just blogging casually or your website is for personal use, there’s no harm in registering it as a private domain and you protect yourself from unsolicited emails and spammers. However, registering your domain as private will result in a message that your information is unavailable, and that could be bad for businesses. Such a message might raise concerns about the legitimacy or trustworthiness of an enterprise. It can also raise a red-flag with search engines. This is only a problem if you engage in other unseemly practices.
If you choose to remain public, you can still protect yourself from those with bad intentions. Some businesses choose to use a proxy, which is a separate company with its own email address. You can also choose to use your business name, address, phone number and email address in place of your personal information.
In the end, the decision is up to the individual to decide, based on their own business or personal needs.
