WHOIS Basics
WHOIS is a directory of contact information for domain name registrants. When you register a domain name, your personal contact information is added to the WHOIS database. This information is used to contact you about your domain name or website, and it can also be used to help resolve legal issues.
What is WHOIS?
WHOIS is a TCP-based query and response protocol for requesting information about an Internet resource, such as a domain name. It is widely used for querying Domain Name System (DNS) public databases in order to find contact or owner information for a given domain name or IP address.
The WHOIS protocol was originally developed in the 1980s for the Arpanet directory services project led by Elizabeth Feinler. Its primary purpose was to provide information about users of the network, but it also included other resources such as computers and email addresses. The protocol has since been adapted for use with other internet resources, including domain names and IP addresses.
WHOIS servers accept and return data in a variety of formats, the most common of which is text/plain. Most WHOIS clients can automatically detect the preferred format for a given server.
WHOIS information is returned in a “record” that contains contacts for the registrant of the domain (or other internet resource), as well as administrative and technical contacts. The registrant’s contact information is generally made public, while the administrative and technical contacts’ information is typically only made available to people who have a legitimate need for it (such as website owners or ISPs).
What is a WHOIS database?
A WHOIS database is a collection of information about registered domain names and their owners. The database is maintained by a registrar, which is an organization that manages the allocation of domain names. When you register a domain name, the registrar will add your name and contact information to the WHOIS database.
The WHOIS database is public, which means that anyone can look up information about a domain name. This can be useful if you want to find out who owns a particular website, or if you’re trying to track down someone who has been using your personal information without your permission.
It’s important to remember that the WHOIS database is a directory, not a source of Truth. Anyone can enter false information when they register a domain name, so don’t rely on the WHOIS database to verify someone’s identity. If you’re looking for someone’s contact information, try doing a web search or checking social media sites like LinkedIn.
WHOIS Services
WHOIS services provide registrants with the ability to look up contact and technical information for a domain name. These services also provide information on who registered the domain, when it was registered, and when it expires. Registrants can also use WHOIS services to find out if a domain name is available.
ICANN WHOIS
WHOIS services provided by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
ICANN’s WHOIS tool provides contact information for domain name registries around the world. Use this tool to find the WHOIS contact information for a particular registry.
The ICANN WHOIS service is provided to assist persons in determining the contents of a domain name registration record in the ICANN global database. The data in this record is provided by ICANN for informational purposes only, and ICANN does not guarantee its accuracy. This service is intended only for query-based access. You agree that you will use this data only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this data to: (a) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations to entities other than the data recipient’s own existing customers; or (b) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of any Registry Operator or ICANN-Accredited registrar, except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by these terms.
ARIN WHOIS
ARIN’s WHOIS service provides contact and network information for the IP addresses in the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) database, including IPv4 and IPv6 address space allocated to ARIN as well as legacy address space. You may use this information to contact the registrant of an IP address block or troubleshoot problems with email or other services.
ARIN offers two different types of WHOIS searches:
-Basic searches return contact information for an organization or individual, including the organization’s name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number.
-Detailed searches return all available information for an organization or individual, including registration date, expiration date, abuse contact information, and much more.
To perform a search, simply enter a search term in the search box and click “Search”.
WHOIS Lookup
A WHOIS domain lookup is a way to look up who owns a domain name or IP address. You can use a WHOIS lookup to find the contact and registration information for a domain name or IP address.
You can use WHOIS to find out the following information about a domain name or IP address:
-The owner of the domain name or IP address
-The contact information for the owner of the domain name or IP address
-The registration information for the domain name or IP address
-The expiration date of the domain name or IP address
To perform a WHOIS lookup, you will need to know the “target” of your search. The target can be either a domain name or an IP address.
For example, if you want to find out who owns the domain name “example.com”, you would enter “example.com” as the target of your search. Alternatively, if you want to find out who owns the IP address “192.168.0.1”, you would enter “192.168.0.1” as the target of your search.
WHOIS Privacy
WHOIS privacy is a service that hides your personal information from the public WHOIS database. This can be beneficial if you don’t want your personal information to be easily accessible. However, WHOIS privacy can also make it more difficult for people to get in touch with you if they need to.
What is WHOIS privacy?
WHOIS privacy, also known as domain name privacy, is a service that hides your personal information from the public WHOIS database. This information includes your name, address, phone number, and email address. When you register a domain name with a registrar, this information is typically made available to anyone who does the WHOIS lookup for that domain.
With WHOIS privacy service, your personal information is replaced with the contact information of the privacy provider, so your identity remains hidden. This service is often offered for free or for an additional fee by registrars and other domain name providers.
WHOIS privacy can be useful if you don’t want your personal information to be publically available, or if you want to prevent spam emails and telemarketing calls. However, it’s important to note that WHOIS privacy does not hide your domain name registration from governments or law enforcement agencies — they can still obtain this information if they have a valid subpoena or court order.
Why use WHOIS privacy?
There are many good reasons to use WHOIS privacy when you register a domain name. Perhaps the most important reason is to protect your personal information from spammers, identity thieves, and other scammers who may use it to harm you.
WHOIS privacy can also be useful if you want to keep your contact information private for other reasons. For example, you may not want your boss or clients to know that you own a particular domain name. Or you may not want potential landlords or employers to see your contact information when they Google your name.
Using WHOIS privacy can also help prevent “domain kiting” — a type of fraud in which someone registers a large number of domains, uses them for a short period of time, and then lets them expire before the registrar can cancel the registration. This type of fraud is possible because WHOIS information is not verified when a domain is registered. By using WHOIS privacy, domain kiting becomes much more difficult because the registrar has no way to contact the owner of the domain if there is a problem with the registration.
How to use WHOIS privacy
There are a number of ways to use WHOIS privacy, but the most common is to use a proxy server. A proxy server is a computer that acts as an intermediary between your computer and the WHOIS database. When you use a proxy server, your computer sends a request to the proxy server, which then sends the request to the WHOIS database. The database doesn’t see your computer’s IP address; it only sees the IP address of the proxy server.
WHOIS History
WHOIS is a query and response protocol that is used for finding out information about a domain name. It is a way to look up information about a domain name, such as the owner of the domain, the registrar, and the date of registration. WHOIS is a decentralized system that is used by registrars to store and share information about domain names.
The Early Days of WHOIS
In the early days of WHOIS, the system was used primarily by administrators and tech-savvy users to find contact information for resources on the ARPANET, which was the precursor to the Internet. The information that was available through WHOIS was limited to resource name, host name, network address, contacts, and associated dates. Over time, as more resources were added to the network and new TLDs were introduced, WHOIS began to be used more frequently by a wider range of users.
In 1999, ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) was formed to manage the DNS (Domain Name System), which is responsible for translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses. As part of its mandate, ICANN required all registrars to provide access to a WHOIS service that would allow users to look up contact information for registered domains. This change made WHOIS more accessible to a wider range of users, and it also resulted in a significant increase in the amount of data that was available through the system.
Today, WHOIS is maintained by a number of different organizations, including ICANN, registrars, and registries. The data that is available through WHOIS has also expanded significantly over time. In addition to basic contact information, most WHOIS services now provide data on domain registration and expiration dates, registrant organization information, nameservers, and more.
The Modern WHOIS
WHOIS was originally designed as a way for network administrators to look up contact information for other network operators. However, it has since become a valuable resource for law enforcement, businesses, and individuals who use it to track down potential fraudsters, cybercriminals, and others with something to hide.
The first WHOIS database was created in 1982, and it was quickly adopted by the US government as a way to track down domain name owners. Today, WHOIS is maintained by a number of different organizations, including the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which is responsible for coordinating the global Domain Name System (DNS).
WHOIS databases are typically divided into two categories: public and private. Public databases can be accessed by anyone, while private databases are restricted to authorized users. ICANN requires registrars to make some data public, such as the name of the domain owner and their contact information. However, registrars are not required to make all data public, and some choose to keep certain information private.
PrivateWHOIS is a service that allows companies and individuals to keep their contact information confidential. When you use PrivateWHOIS, your personal information is replaced with the contact information of a proxy server. This makes it more difficult for people to track you down using WHOIS, but it does not make it impossible.
If you’re concerned about your privacy or security online, you may want to consider using PrivateWHOIS.
WHOIS Facts
The WHOIS domain database is a listing of all registered domains, and is regularly used for various legal purposes. WHOIS data can be very useful, especially when trying to track down the owner of a website. However, it’s important to understand that WHOIS data is public, and can be accessed by anyone.
WHOIS is a protocol
The WHOIS protocol is a widely used protocol that is used to query databases that store the registered users or assignees of an Internet resource, such as a domain name, an IP address block, or an autonomous system.
The original purpose of WHOIS was to provide a convenient way for people to find out who was responsible for a particular domain name or IP address. However, over time it has become increasingly used as a way to gather data for marketing purposes and research.
There are now many different WHOIS databases, each with its own set of rules and practices. These databases can be divided into two main categories: registrar WHOIS databases and registry WHOIS databases.
Registrar WHOIS databases store contact information for the registered users of domain names. Registry WHOIS databases store contact information for the assignees of IP addresses and autonomous system numbers.
Both registrar and registry WHOIS databases are subject to regular updates, making them dynamic sources of data.
WHOIS is a query and response system
WHOIS is a query and response system that returns data about a domain, such as contact information and availability. When you register a domain, your personal information is entered into the WHOIS database. This information is used to contact you about your domain, and it can be accessed by anyone who wants to know who owns a certain domain.
To protect your privacy, some registrars offer a WHOIS privacy service that replaces your personal information with generic contact information. This service is usually available for an additional fee.
WHOIS queries are submitted using the WHOIS protocol. The WHOIS protocol is a simple text-based protocol that can be used to query any WHOIS database. The WHOIS protocol is defined in RFC 3912.
WHOIS is a database
WHOIS is a database. When you register a domain, that information goes into the WHOIS database. The database is public, so anyone can look up who owns a domain. That way, you can find out who to contact if there’s a problem with the website, or if you want to buy the domain from the owner.