Is There a Way to Operate a Domain Anonymously?

A domain refers to a hierarchical namespace used for identification and location on the internet. Specifically, a domain is a string used to identify computers or resources on the internet, typically represented in a hierarchical format. For example, in the format "example.com", it consists of a top-level domain (TLD) (here, ".com") and a second-level domain (SLD) (here, "example").

Domain names are commonly associated with IP addresses and are used as a means for users to access resources on the internet using memorable names. For instance, "example.com" represents a specific website domain name, and entering this domain name into a browser allows access to the corresponding website.

What is Whois?

When registering a domain, registrars typically require the submission of personal information (such as name, phone number, organization, address, email address, etc.) of the registrant and administrative contact in the form of Whois data.

Domain Whois refers to both a protocol and a database system used to provide information about specific domain names on the internet. Whois data includes detailed information such as the domain name's owner, administrator, registration date, expiry date, domain name servers, and other related details. This information is generally publicly accessible, allowing anyone to retrieve information about a specific domain name by querying the Whois database.

The Whois database is typically operated by domain registrars or registries with the goal of improving transparency and reliability of information related to domain names on the internet. It's important to note that this information is globally accessible to anyone, promoting equal access worldwide.

To protect the personal information typically included in Whois records, registrars often offer a Whois Privacy Protection service. This service helps safeguard registrants' details by replacing sensitive personal information with alternative contact details in the public Whois database. This practice helps protect individuals' privacy and reduce the risk of personal information exposure to spammers, marketers, and other parties who may misuse the data.

About Whois Privacy Protection Services

Whois Privacy Protection Service is a service designed for domain name owners to keep their personal information private. Normally, when registering a domain name, the owner's contact information (name, address, phone number, email address, etc.) is made publicly accessible. However, by using Whois Privacy Protection Service, the information of a proxy company is made public, as shown in the following image.

Whois Privacy Protection Service is utilized for privacy protection, spam prevention, and reducing the risk of personal information exposure. Owners can avoid the potential misuse of their personal information, such as unauthorized use or spam email. When using Whois Privacy Protection Service, if someone looks up the Whois information of a domain name, they will see the information of the proxy company instead of the owner's personal details. The proxy company accepts communications on behalf of the owner and forwards them to the appropriate contact.

When using this service, there is typically a fee charged by the domain registrar or proxy company, but in return, the owner's privacy is protected.

However, even when using Whois Privacy Protection Service, there is a possibility that information may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies. Generally, the purpose of Whois Privacy Protection Service is to hide the owner's personal information from public view, but the proxy company may have an obligation to disclose information in response to formal requests or legal procedures from law enforcement agencies or courts.

Therefore, relying solely on Whois Privacy Protection Service does not guarantee complete protection of personal information.

What should you do next?

Use Njalla for acquiring a domain while keeping your personal information hidden

https://njal.la

Njalla is a domain registration service founded by Peter Sunde, one of the co-founders of The Pirate Bay, in 2017. It offers a service where users can acquire domains with complete anonymity.

Njalla is designed for users who prioritize privacy. When you use Njalla, the ownership of the domain name is held by Njalla, ensuring that the actual owner's information remains private. When acquiring a domain through Njalla, you do not need to provide any personal information whatsoever. This means that no information you haven't input will be leaked.

As a result, using Njalla protects individuals' privacy and anonymity effectively.
In summary, the advantages of Njalla are as follows:

1. Privacy Protection: Actual owner's personal information (such as name, address, phone number) is concealed.
2. Ensured Anonymity: Since Njalla holds the ownership, domain names are not directly linked to the owner's identity.

This allows individuals and businesses to manage domain names securely while safeguarding privacy on the internet.
Now, let's proceed to guide you through the process of acquiring a domain using Njalla.

Use Njalla to register new Domains

Sign up

https://njal.la/signup/

Let's sign up for Njalla using the following steps. Njalla supports sign-up via email or XMPP.

It's recommended to avoid using regular email providers like Gmail or Outlook due to the higher likelihood of these providers retaining personal information.

Instead, consider using anonymous email services such as ProtonMail or Tutanota, or register via XMPP for enhanced privacy and security during the sign-up process.

Buy Domains

The pricing for domains varies based on the top-level domain (TLD), but commonly used TLDs like .com and .net domains can be purchased starting from 15 euros.

You can check the domain pricing based on different TLDs by visiting the following link: Domain Pricing based on TLD

When purchasing a domain through Njalla, it's necessary to have a balance pre-loaded into your account.

The domain purchase process typically involves using cryptocurrency as the payment method. Major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are accepted, along with more privacy-focused cryptocurrencies such as Monero and Zcash.

If you don't have cryptocurrency, you can use PayPal for payment, although this option may be less secure compared to cryptocurrency payments.

Verifying the Anonymity of Acquired Domains

After acquiring a domain through Njalla, it's important to check the Whois information before hosting a website. Upon verification, you may see that the domain was obtained through Tucows via Njalla, with the domain registration administrator listed as 1337 LLC. This confirmation should provide peace of mind!

Additionally, Njalla offers VPS hosting services, allowing for convenient bulletproof hosting solutions. Depending on your needs, you may also consider services like VDSina or Flokinet.

For added security and resilience, consider combining these hosting solutions with content delivery networks (CDNs) such as Cloudflare or DDoSGuard. This combination can help in building a robust website capable of withstanding various online threats.

Advanced Privacy Protection

One of the potential security risks on the internet is the protection of mobile phone numbers. Mobile phone numbers are frequently used for purposes like SMS-based identity verification, uniquely identifying users. Obtaining international mobile phone numbers is not easy, which is why many websites limit user registration based on residential area.

To mitigate such risks of personal information exposure and geo-blocking, it's advisable to use disposable phone number services like SMSOnline.

https://www.smsonline.cloud

SMSOnline is a notable website where you can access phone numbers from around the world and view SMS messages sent to each number on the web platform.

By using SMSOnline, you no longer need to expose your real phone number online. SMSOnline continuously acquires phone numbers from over 20 countries, including Tier 1 countries like Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, the United States, Germany, and others, with over 100 phone numbers available online at any time.

Access to international phone numbers makes it easy to bypass geoblocking using mobile phone number verification. When used in conjunction with a VPN service, SMSOnline helps reduce your online footprint and enhances privacy by allowing you to access websites and services without revealing your real phone number.

The extent to which privacy measures are implemented can vary significantly depending on the nature of your activities. Starting with easy-to-implement measures like using utilizing disposable phone numbers can be a great way to begin enhancing your privacy.

Thank you for reading.