WHOIS is a public database of domain registration details. Anyone can look up a domain’s registrant name, address, email and phone number. To protect your personal information, many registrars offer WHOIS privacy (sometimes called ID protection). When privacy is enabled, your registrar or privacy service’s contact details replace your own, while you remain the legal registrant. ICANN requires that domain owners supply accurate contact information, but privacy services provide a contact form or forwarding service so legitimate inquiries can still reach you【89175876116139†L73-L150】.
### Enabling WHOIS privacy
1. Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel.
2. Locate the domain you want to protect and open the management page.
3. Look for an option labelled “Privacy Protection”, “ID Protection” or “WHOIS Privacy”.
4. Follow the prompts to enable the service. Some generic top-level domains support privacy by default, while some country-code TLDs do not【89175876116139†L134-L156】.
5. Review the charges (if applicable) and confirm your purchase. After activation, your personal contact information will be replaced with the privacy service’s details【89175876116139†L134-L156】.
### Enabling or disabling domain locking
A registrar lock (also called domain lock) prevents unauthorized transfers or DNS changes【477686244502770†L661-L668】. Many registrars automatically enable this lock when you register or transfer a domain.
1. Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel.
2. Open the domain’s management page.
3. Locate the status setting, often labelled “Registrar Lock”, “Domain Lock” or “Transfer Lock”.
4. To protect your domain, ensure the lock is set to “Enabled”. When the lock is enabled the domain cannot be transferred to another registrar until you disable it.
5. If you intend to transfer your domain, you must disable the lock first. Under ICANN rules your registrar must unlock the domain within five calendar days of your request【477686244502770†L661-L668】.
6. After completing your transfer or changes, re‑enable the lock to protect the domain.
Enabling both WHOIS privacy and domain locking helps guard your personal information and prevents unauthorized changes. If your registrar does not support these features or you are unsure how to configure them, please contact Faciotech support for assistance.
