WHOIS privacy when transferring from GoDaddy to NameSilo

GD will force you to decloak.

One workaround is set WHOIS to free Anonymize.com WHOIS privacy proxy and then wait 60 days.

I am not aware of another work-around but others can suggest.

When I transfer domains (for example: from GD to NS) WHOIS data by default protected.
Thats works with any registrar with free Whois Protection.

What rob suggest is a fine solution.

You can opt out of the 60 day lock at godaddy so you can move the domain after 10 days I think.

Makise said:

When I transfer domains (for example: from GD to NS) WHOIS data by default protected.
Thats works with any registrar with free Whois Protection.

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You should check that one -- when you try to transfer out from GD, I am 99.9% sure that you will be required to remove the WHOIS privacy.

Rob Monster said:

You should check that one -- when you try to transfer out from GD, I am 99.9% sure that you will be required to remove the WHOIS privacy.

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When I transferred some domains from GD to Namecheap, the registrar automatically replaced public data with private data. In less than 5 minutes

Rob Monster said:

You should check that one -- when you try to transfer out from GD, I am 99.9% sure that you will be required to remove the WHOIS privacy.

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I never tried myself but it could be just outdated info on the GoDaddy site.

It's the same at namecheap. Their FAQ says you should disable privacy prior to initiation of a transfer out but you can actually transfer and remain under privacy. Mails get forwarded by their privacy proxy.

The same might apply to GD but to make sure I would create a ticket.

Makise said:

When I transferred some domains from GD to Namecheap, the registrar automatically replaced public data with private data. In less than 5 minutes

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That's the problem. The 5 minutes is all the crawlers need. See the requirement here:

https://godaddy.com/help/transfer-my-domain-away-from-godaddy-3560

I know because it happened to a customer recently -- they were getting spams and they were wondering how their email could have possibly been leaked. It was the brief (few hours) Godaddy WHOIS decloak that did it.

Anonymize.com whois free. Works with any registrar. Just don't abuse it -- see ToS.

If you initiate the transfer and then approve it in your GoDaddy control panel your info will be exposed for 15 minutes. Should not be an issue. I do it all the time.

karmaco said:

If you initiate the transfer and then approve it in your GoDaddy control panel your info will be exposed for 15 minutes. Should not be an issue. I do it all the time.

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Client experienced otherwise. So, don't bank on being lucky -- or if you feel lucky, best be quick!

Rob Monster said:

That's the problem. The 5 minutes is all the crawlers need. See the requirement here:

https://godaddy.com/help/transfer-my-domain-away-from-godaddy-3560

I know because it happened to a customer recently -- they were getting spams and they were wondering how their email could have possibly been leaked. It was the brief (few hours) Godaddy WHOIS decloak that did it.

Anonymize.com whois free. Works with any registrar. Just don't abuse it -- see ToS.

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What is crazy is that godaddy makes you remove privacy to transfer out - probably knowing it discourages some - due to the concerns mentioned above. I believe that godaddy circumvents their own rules when fast transferring (upon an afternic sale). I don't believe privacy is removed prior to transfer. If so, why not allow the same for user initiated transfers?

Ja Kai said:

What is crazy is that godaddy makes you remove privacy to transfer out - probably knowing it discourages some - due to the concerns mentioned above. I believe that godaddy circumvents their own rules when fast transferring (upon an afternic sale). I don't believe privacy is removed prior to transfer. If so, why not allow the same for user initiated transfers?

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If you want to know the #1 reason why Epik became a registrar in 2011, it is due to Godaddy privacy:

https://epik.com/blog/bob-parsons-tear-down-your-privacy-wall.html

It was nonsense then, and it is still nonsense.

This is a topic I had wondered about. Thanks for the insights. So is the brief period of loss of privacy exclusively a GD transfer issue? For example, if I have a domain name at say NameSilo, Dynadot, Namecheap with privacy enabled and transfer it to Epik, or vice versa, will there be a loss in privacy?
Thanks,
Bob

Bob Hawkes said:

This is a topic I had wondered about. Thanks for the insights. So is the brief period of loss of privacy exclusively a GD transfer issue? For example, if I have a domain name at say NameSilo, Dynadot, Namecheap with privacy enabled and transfer it to Epik, or vice versa, will there be a loss in privacy?
Thanks,
Bob

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AFAIK, of the top 50 registrars, only Godaddy forces you to decloak privacy to leave. It is completely lame -- a form of friction that does not need to exist but it does, and I am sure it does by design. That is one major reason why we made Anonymize.com WHOIS privacy free for everyone.

Godaddy's software is self-destructing. They are following in the footsteps of Network Solutions now, milking the cow and creating exit friction because they completely know that their goose is cooked. I have this from reliable internal sources. They still have lovely people there but I expect resumes will be out soon.

Godaddy should get back to the mission of competing on product superiority. It is too late for them to do it organically but they can pick up a few tech acquisitions here and there to get back on track. Uniregistry seems like a natural fit for them right now, plus I think Frank needs an exit.

WHOIS email is not needed to start the transfer...
This practice was deprecated since GDPR (May'2018).
Nowadays the gainig registrar initiates the transfer immediately...

Jurgen Wolf said:

WHOIS email is not needed to start the transfer...
This practice was deprecated since GDPR (May'2018).
Nowadays the gainig registrar initiates the transfer immediately...

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That is correct -- GDPR broke that, and that was actually a good thing for bulk transfers. However, nevertheless Godaddy will transfer lock your domain until you remove their privacy. Clear?

I never order GD privacy...
So never had such issues.

Two questions:

1) I certainly had to remove privacy at IONOS prior to transferring out. I'm pretty sure I had to remove privacy at NameSilo and Porkbun prior to transferring out also, but I could be mistaken. Can someone confirm?

2) @Rob Monster, are you saying a remedy is to replace our WHOIS info on file at our current registrar with our Anonymize account info, then wait 60 days, then transfer out? ↓

Rob Monster said:

...

One workaround is set WHOIS to free Anonymize.com WHOIS privacy proxy and then wait 60 days.

I am not aware of another work-around but others can suggest.

Click to expand...

Bernard Wright said:

Two questions:


2) @Rob Monster, are you saying a remedy is to replace our WHOIS info on file at our current registrar with our Anonymize account info, then wait 60 days, then transfer out? ↓

Click to expand...

Yes, correct.