What is Domain Whois?

Domain Whois is the identity of a domain name, containing information such as the owner of a domain, expiration date, and registration date. The answer to the question "who owns the domain?" for a registered domain is revealed through a Whois query. By performing a domain Whois query, you can quickly access the following information:

  • Domain owner
  • Domain registration date
  • Domain update date
  • Domain expiration date

How Does Whois Work?

The working method of Whois involves the transmission of data related to the domain extension to the Registration company or the official registration companies' Whois server, through private agreements that allocate authorized IP addresses and a database under security conditions.

What is Private Whois Registration/Information?

Some domain names have private Whois information. This is called domain Whois protection. To protect the privacy of Whois information, it is necessary to notify the proxy service responsible for maintaining the privacy of Whois information of the owner or the technical and financial managers of the domain.

According to ICANN rules, the service provider of Whois protection must relay the notifications it receives through its own channels with private Whois information to the domain owner. As this obligation is based on the declaration principle, it is the responsibility of the private Whois owner to ensure that all Whois information is accurate and up-to-date.

How Accurate Are WHOIS Data?

ICANN has created rules to ensure that the WHOIS database contains accurate information. Organizations like Atak Domain, as domain name establishments, send annual emails to domain owners, urging them to review and update their WHOIS domain data. Refusing to update WHOIS information or providing incorrect information, according to ICANN rules, can lead to the suspension or cancellation of the domain address.

ICANN allows users to file complaints and facilitates the resolution of problems if they detect that WHOIS domain search data is incomplete or incorrect. In case of a complaint, domain registration establishments must promptly correct and verify WHOIS information.

How to Update My WHOIS Information?

WHOIS information is usually found in the "Domain Management" or "Domain Settings" section of your domain registration establishment's control panel. From there, you can update your WHOIS information. Updating your WHOIS information in a few simple steps can easily be done, ensuring that your contact information remains up-to-date. It is important to keep your WHOIS information up-to-date to comply with ICANN rules and ensure that you receive WHOIS correspondence at the correct email address.

Why Is Domain Whois Privacy Important?

If you disable the privacy of your Whois, anyone making a Whois query can access all your Whois information. This can lead to receiving unwanted emails, commonly known as spam, or targeted advertising emails based on obtained domain information.

What Information Is Displayed in a Whois Query?

When you perform a Whois query and domain privacy is not enabled, the information in the Whois database is displayed. If domain privacy is active, no information will be visible. If domain privacy is not active and you perform a Whois query, accessible information usually includes:

  • Name of the domain owner
  • Address of the domain owner
  • Email address of the domain owner
  • Phone number of the domain owner

Should I Hide WHOIS Information for My Domain?

Activating Whois privacy is a personal choice, but it is strongly recommended to prevent the exposure and potential misuse of your personal information. If Whois privacy is not enabled, everyone can view all your personal identity information.

Are WHOIS Data Stored in the ICANN WHOIS Database?

The Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) domain status codes, also known as domain status codes, indicate the status of a registered domain. Each domain can have one or more status codes.

You can easily determine the status of your domain address using the EPP code. For more information, we recommend checking the ICANN EPP Code Descriptions.