| When setting up a new website, you have to | | | | legitimacy because you're willing to put your real |
| register the domain with the Internet Corporation for | | | | information out there. However, this does make your |
| Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) - a non-profit | | | | information more susceptible to spam; if anyone can |
| organization which manages domain names. When | | | | access your company e-mail, then anyone can add it |
| doing so, you have the option of registering the | | | | to an e-mail list. |
| domain as either public or private. | | | | If you decide to register it as private, your |
| If a domain is registered as public, then the | | | | information will be protected. Most domain registrars |
| information you used to register the domain - your | | | | who provide private registration will also be able to |
| name, address, e-mail address, and phone number - | | | | create a unique e-mail address to be listed in WHOIS |
| can be accessed by anyone through WHOIS (a | | | | so if anyone does try to contact you that way, they |
| protocol that determines a registrar). If you register | | | | will be able to. You can have that e-mail address |
| your domain as private - which usually costs a little | | | | forwarded to a preferred e-mail account, or ignored |
| extra - that information is protected, with the | | | | altogether. The extra cost of registering your domain |
| WHOIS query either providing the information of a | | | | as private is minimal - usually $10 per year. |
| proxy registrar or stating the information is | | | | Ultimately, the decision is up to you. It depends on |
| unavailable. In the case of using a proxy, you still | | | | what information you're providing to the registrar and |
| have complete access and control over all aspects of | | | | how closely you need to protect that information. It's |
| the domain even though it is technically registered by | | | | likely the vast majority of people out there aren't |
| someone else. | | | | even aware they can look up your information |
| So, should you register your domain as public or | | | | through WHOIS, and those that do know probably |
| private? | | | | don't care. If your company is legitimate (which it |
| If you choose to register it as public, that's okay; | | | | should be!) and your website already provides the |
| you should probably just be sure to put information | | | | information necessary for someone to get a hold of |
| that you wouldn't mind people seeing - a company | | | | you, you might as well spend the extra few cents |
| phone number or a company e-mail address as | | | | each month in order to better protect your |
| opposed to a personal one. For some potential | | | | information so you don't have to deal with spammers |
| customers or visitors to your site, registering your | | | | or potentially have your information compromised. |
| domain as public may give your company more | | | | |