WHOIS Privacy Protection: Why It Matters for Nepal Businesses
Understand WHOIS data, why your personal information is public by default, and how privacy protection keeps you safe.
When you register a domain, your personal information becomes public by default. WHOIS privacy protection hides this data from spammers and scammers.
What is WHOIS?
WHOIS is a public database listing the owner of every registered domain. Without privacy protection, it displays:
- Your full name
- Your mailing address
- Your email address
- Your phone number
Anyone can look up this information for free at lookup.icann.org.
What WHOIS Privacy Does
WHOIS privacy replaces your personal information with the registrar's contact details. You still own the domain and control DNS, renewals, and transfers.
Real Consequences of Skipping Privacy
Spam and Phishing — Within 24-48 hours of registering without privacy, expect 10-20 spam emails daily.
Domain Hijacking Attempts — Scammers use WHOIS info to impersonate your registrar with fake renewal emails.
Personal Safety — Public home address enables stalking and harassment for individuals and public figures.
Cost of WHOIS Privacy in Nepal
| Registrar | Privacy Cost |
|---|---|
| TLDNepal | Free (included) |
| Most competitors | रू500-रू800/year |
Over 5 years, free privacy saves रू2,500-रू4,000.
Does Privacy Affect SEO or Trust?
SEO: No. Google does not rank sites differently based on WHOIS privacy.
Trust: Your "About" page and SSL certificate do more for trust than WHOIS.
How to Enable
At TLDNepal: Enabled by default on all domains. No action required.
Check if your current domains have privacy enabled: visit lookup.icann.org and search your domain.
All TLDNepal domains include free WHOIS privacy. View pricing.