Introduction

When you purchase a domain name for your business/organization or individual use, you become the registered owner of that domain. Your registrar designates you as the registrant of that domain by assigning your name and contact information to it. People can access this information using the WHOIS directory.

What Is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a database that stores data about who owns a website and its registered domain name. WHOIS collects such information from different domain registries and registrars. The WHOIS directory acts as a central repository for any domain registration data you may need. You can use the WHOIS lookup as a search tool to find any records related to a domain name or IP address. Since 1982, the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has regulated the WHOIS database. The registration data stored in the WHOIS database is held in different locations and managed by different registries and registrars. A registry owns and manages domain extensions but does not sell them. Different registrars sell and register their domains, like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains. Once you understand how to buy a domain name from an accredited registrar and share your contact information with them, they will update the domain knowledge base. As mentioned, WHOIS can also collect information from registries that manage domain extensions. A domain extension is the last part of a domain name that comes after the dot. The most common domain extensions are .com, .org, and .org. When the GDPR came into effect in May 2018, most data about domain registrants became difficult to access. ICANN has made this temporary decision while they find out the best way to comply with GDPR in the context of the WHOIS database. This means that ICANN can still decide to make full or part of the domain-related data available to the general public again in the future.

Why Was the WHOIS Database Created?

During its initial phase, the WHOIS Database functioned as a directory. It listed the contact information of anyone transmitting data across the ARPANET, a building block of the internet. As the internet expanded and evolved, ICANN made agreements with other registries to ensure WHOIS information remained accurate and easy to access. ICANN’s agreements have policies that require registrars to protect registrant information from third-party uses and encourage their registrants to update their data on a regular basis. With the rise and prominence of fake news on the internet, it has become increasingly important to know the source of your information. WHOIS helps democratize the internet. Anyone can access and use this database to discover who is behind a certain domain name and any associated domain. As you may realize, maintaining accurate domain registration information can be beneficial for users as well as the overall integrity of the digital world. In today’s day and age, the WHOIS database system offers a number of advantages, including:
  • Better Transparency: Anyone can perform a WHOIS search and discover the details of the domain registrant. This encourages website owners to remain accountable for how they use their sites.
  • Accuracy of Information: WHOIS helps you determine a website's authenticity and allows you to get information or make purchases from reputable sites easily.
  • Improved Cybercrime Prevention: WHOIS also allows you to investigate scam websites or those using your intellectual property.
  • Streamlined Business Transactions: If an individual, group, or organization wants to purchase a particular domain name, they can use the WHOIS directory to determine if the chosen domain name is available or contact the owner and negotiate a deal.

What Kind of Information Is Stored in the WHOIS Database?

According to ICANN, the WHOIS database should maintain updated contact information for the domain name owner and other parties who oversee the domain name, such as contacts for billing, technical issues, and general administrative support. If you supply false details while registering your domain name, you are at risk of losing your domain. As per ICAAN, if the domain name registrant intentionally provides inaccurate information, fails to update details within seven days of any change, or does not respond within 15 days to an inquiry about the accuracy, the domain name may get suspended or canceled. The contact details required during the domain registration process include a name, a phone number, an address, and an email address. WHOIS may also gather other details, such as the domain registrar, the initial domain name registration date, the domain name expiration date, and name servers. If you don’t want your sensitive details to be easily accessible by anyone with an internet connection, you can use a tactic to keep your details secure. Almost every domain name registrar offers some level of domain privacy. It allows you to replace the registrar’s information with your own. So, instead of showing your contact information in WHOIS Lookup results, the registrar’s details will be displayed. In such cases, the registrar acts as the “middle man,” directing any inquiries to you.

WHOIS Lookup Limitations

Even though the WHOIS database stores a significant amount of details about registered domain names, WHOIS IP lookup does not show all the registration details for every domain name or IP address. Certain top-level domains (TLDs) like .com and .met will have their registration details in the WHOIS database. Other TLDs, such as .gov or .me, show fewer details. Several domain extensions, like .coop or .asia, do not allow domain privacy. In these cases, the registrant's details will always be searchable and viewable. ICANN is working continuously to improve the WHOIS system. They have also acknowledged that the evolution of the internet ecosystem has created challenges for WHOIS in every sector.

Conclusion

WHOIS remains a crucial aspect of today’s internet landscape. Even though most of the data it currently provides is private, WHOIS still enables users to learn about the owners of most domains available on the internet, allowing users to contact them if needed. You, too, can perform a WHOIS lookup on your own in a few simple steps. As privacy laws evolve, the WHOIS protocol will continue to adapt and find new ways to maintain a functional public database while protecting sensitive personal data.