WHOIS Search
and domain name lookup
Enjoy free WHOIS privacy with DNSimple.
Experience uninterrupted protection for your personal information, without the hassle of remembering to renew it.
Benefit from free WHOIS privacy and auto-renewal on all supported TLDs when you register, renew, or transfer your domain with DNSimple.
What is a WHOIS search?
A WHOIS search lets anyone look up details about a domain name, like who owns it, when it was registered, when it expires, and the owner’s contact information. Each TLD is responsible for their own WHOIS registry information, and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages the directory.
There are a number of situations that might call for a WHOIS search. For example, it can help you find out who owns a domain name and how to contact them if you want to buy it. You can also use WHOIS to get the contact details of a website's owner if you need to get in touch with them for personal or legal reasons.
What is WHOIS privacy?
When you register a domain name, you’re required to provide your name, email, phone number, and physical address. These are entered into the WHOIS database, which is available to the general public. WHOIS privacy, sometimes called domain privacy, is a service that substitutes your personal information with proxy information from a privacy provider. Certain registrars may also restrict the amount of data accessible in a WHOIS search.
Read more about use WHOIS privacy on DNSimple.What is the relevance of WHOIS Privacy?
If you don’t have WHOIS privacy enabled, anyone can find your domain's ownership information and exploit it for things like harassment, phishing, spamming, and identity theft. With WHOIS privacy enabled, your information is hidden, and only authorized entities can view it. DNSimple offers free WHOIS privacy, along with WHOIS privacy auto-renewal, on all supported domains.
What is the impact of GDPR on WHOIS Privacy?
In 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a regulation of the European Union, went into effect. One of the main requirements of GDPR is that organizations must get individuals' explicit consent before collecting, processing, or disclosing their personal data. This also applies to the private data kept in the WHOIS database. To comply with GDPR, many domain registrars and registries changed their WHOIS privacy policies. In accordance with GDPR, domain owners have the right to request that their personal information be removed from the WHOIS database. To meet this obligation, many registrars now provide their clients with free or paid WHOIS privacy service.