When you register a domain name, the associated contact details are usually submitted to the registry and may become publicly accessible through WHOIS lookup databases. Namhost offers ID Protection to help keep your personal information private.
What information may be publicly visible?
Without privacy protection enabled, publicly visible information may include:
- Your full name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Physical address
- Organisation details
This information can be accessed by anyone online using WHOIS lookup services.
Public exposure of contact details can lead to:
- Spam emails
- Unwanted sales calls
- Phishing attempts
- Domain hijacking attacks
- Identity misuse
How ID protection works
ID Protection works by replacing your public WHOIS information with generic privacy service details while still retaining your real information securely within Namhost and the registry systems.
Your actual information remains stored for:
- Legal compliance
- ICANN requirements
- Ownership verification
- Registry administration
However, it is no longer publicly visible to the general public.
How to enable ID Protection:
- Log in to your Namhost account
- Navigate to the “Domains” section
- Select the domain you want to protect
- Click:
- “ID Protection”
- “Enable Privacy Protection”
- Review the information
- Confirm activation
The changes are usually reflected in WHOIS records within a short period.
Important information to understand:
- Not all TLDs support WHOIS privacy
- Some country-code extensions such as:
- .za
- .na
do not allow ID Protection due to registry rules
- Legal authorities may still request access to registrant information where required
Even if ID Protection is enabled, you should always use accurate registrant information during registration. False details can create problems during renewals, transfers, or ownership disputes.
For individuals, freelancers, startups, and small businesses, enabling ID Protection is a strong privacy and security measure that helps reduce unnecessary exposure online.