registrars GoDaddy WHOIS masking starts January 25

[Michael M]

Godaddy has done some masking in the past on automated bots, but it looks like Godaddy will be completely hiding your name, phone, and email from the backend whois system. Whois information will still be complete when accessed using Godaddy's site (with required captcha). This will be good to help stop a lot of the domaining spam, but will definitely limit whois history services going forward.

I received this email this morning from Godaddy:

WHOIS masking starts January 25.

This service will block some of your contact details through automated access points.


We're always looking for ways to protect your information online. To help slow the flood of spam that can occur when you register a domain without privacy services, WHOIS masking of certain personal data will be turned on for all domains on January 25.

This service will limit a potential spammer's ability to access your first name, last name, email and phone number through automated means (also known as Port 43 access). We'll continue to publish full WHOIS details to users of our CAPTCHA-protected, web-based WHOIS system, as required.

Here's how to opt out:

If you still want your information to be available via automated sources of public WHOIS data, you can opt out anytime using one of these options:


•

Call us at (480) 505-8877.

•

Send your request to [email protected]. We may ask for additional information for verification purposes.


Domain Privacy still matters.

While we hope this service will help cut down on spam calls and emails, because registration information is still made available publicly, Domain Privacy is still the best way to maintain anonymity online. WHOIS masking will only restrict spammers through automated bulk access sources.

 

[CryptoInvestor]

Ouch! Right in the outbound marketing! Thats too bad

 

[alcy]

thanks for info, just opted out of this bs.

 

[The Ahir]

...

 

[Haroon Basha]

I want some end user or interested buyer to see my contact details. I will say no this BLOCKING.

 

[Chris Hydrick]

but will definitely limit whois history services going forward.

I don't think I would have realized this trickle if you didn't point it out. Thank you.

 

[SBS66]

Yeah..I just opted out too.

@Haroon Basha Yes...it's done in the name of protecting from spam,lol. At first I wondered what it would do to those who sell the name privacy services, but then I remembered most end users buy stuff they don't need. I figures those services will be fine.

 

[Maple Fly]

This is nice idea, keep it up.

 

[Talk Blogger]

I get a lot of phone calls daily and also receieve SMS for web development for the recent domains bought. This may stop I feel. Also I feel there should be a custom option of what information fields we can keep public and rest private.