Domain Privacy Protection — Do You Need It?

Equals Creative
Aug 9, 2017 · 3 min read

Whether you have recently built a website or you are thinking about owning your first site, you will want to learn about the process of creating a website, along with the security options available to you.

Looking through our own website, you will be able to find out about everything from web design to branding. However, the smaller aspects, like domain privacy protection information is not available, until now!

What is domain privacy protection?

Domain privacy protection is essentially a defence which is applied to your domain, and therefore protects your personal information from being accessed on public online records. When you buy your own domain, you will have the option of obtaining domain privacy protection. If you opt for it, then your information will be kept hidden.

Is domain privacy protection a necessity?

It isn’t something that you have to choose, you can continue without it, and many people do. However, some people say no to it because it costs extra to have your domain protected. Depending on where you build your website or secure your domain, domain privacy protection is an option as part of the process.

What you can expect from domain privacy protection

If you decide to pursue protection for your domain, then you can guarantee:

  • Protection of your personal information associated with your domain.
  • Prevention of being approached by unsolicited personnel — which could include sales people, telemarketers, freelance digital marketers, and spammers.
  • Puts a stop to domain theft, also known as domain hijacking.

What will happen without domain privacy protection

Without protection, your domain will be added to the WHOIS listings, which is an online database of records that lists all the unprotected domains and the domain owner’s details. The details listed can include:

  • Your address.
  • Your business name.
  • Your email(s).
  • Your name.
  • Your phone number.

Without protection, the main worry is that your personal information is easily accessible to everyone online.

Do I need domain privacy protection?

We can’t really answer this question for you as an individual. However, to guide you to a conclusion, we have two key questions for you to consider.

First question

Do you want your private information visible online?

Many people don’t want their contact details listed online, because it can encourage unsolicited personnel to contact them in an attempt to buy their domain or sell them a product or service. But other people may not mind.

Second question

This second question is usually the decider — are you working with a strict budget?

Domain privacy protection isn’t free, so it would mean that you would have to pay for it. It’s an additional cost that you may not be able to afford, or it could be something that you could accommodate to for your protection.

The main benefit of domain privacy protection is that it keeps your personal information private. We hear too many horror stories of identity theft, and it’s no wonder that people feel anxious about their information being listed on a public online database.

Can you justify the costs?

The cost of domain privacy protection is easily affordable for a single domain. However, the main issue with cost arises when you own many domains, then it can become a little pricey for the year.

If you are able to justify domain privacy protection costs, then we would recommend that you utilise it — it could save you time from receiving spam calls or emails, and will give you control of the information you share online.

Equals Creative

Written by

Influencing Real People Through Digital Insight - An Award-Winning Digital Marketing & User Experience Agency in Surrey, UK. https://equalscreative.com

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