| Are you worried about your privacy online when | | | | - Consumers can use the contact information to fight |
| starting a website? You should be. When you register | | | | fraud. |
| domain names - free privacy settings from your | | | | - Corporations can use the contact information to |
| registrar can protect you from spam, prying eyes, or | | | | fight trademark infringement. |
| worse. | | | | What's the solution? Domain Name Privacy |
| What's the problem? | | | | Registration. |
| - You have to give your real contact information | | | | Chances are you're not doing something evil with |
| when you register a domain name. This includes your | | | | your domain name. Free privacy options from your |
| full name, mailing address, telephone number and | | | | registrar can help protect your privacy. |
| email address. | | | | - Instead of publishing your contact information in the |
| - Your contact information is publicly listed as the | | | | WHOIS database, your registrar lists their company |
| contact for your domain name. Your name and | | | | name, address, telephone numbers, and email. |
| personal information is published in the WHOIS | | | | - You still retain full rights and ownership of the |
| database which can be searched by anybody using | | | | domain name, but this way, your contact information |
| free web tools. | | | | isn't obvious. |
| - Your contact information can be harvested by | | | | - A good registrar will offer free privacy when you |
| marketing companies for telemarketing and spam | | | | register the domain name. Other companies can |
| email. | | | | charge anywhere from an additional $6.99 per year |
| - If you run a website that deals with controversial | | | | and up. |
| issues, your personal information is easily accessible | | | | What's the catch? Domain name privacy isn't perfect. |
| to disgruntled visitors who want to take action. | | | | - You're hiding your privacy behind your registrar's |
| - Worse case scenario - your contact information | | | | contact information. Your privacy is only as strong as |
| helps build an online picture of you for identity theft. | | | | your registrar's will to keep your contact information |
| Don't get us wrong. Listing contact information in the | | | | private. |
| WHOIS database isn't necessarily a bad thing. | | | | - Domain Name Privacy will protect you from prying |
| - Law enforcement officials can use the information | | | | eyes and spam harvesting, but it won't hide you |
| to fight crime. | | | | from the law. |