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Guide

Anonymous domain registration and WHOIS.

A website needs a domain, and the domain system has its own identity records. This guide explains what is public and how to limit it.

What WHOIS is

WHOIS (and its newer form, RDAP) is a public record of who registered a domain. Many registrars replace your details with proxy details when you turn on privacy.

What to ask a registrar

  • Is WHOIS privacy on by default and free?
  • What identity do you require to register?
  • Which payment methods do you accept?
  • How do you handle legal and abuse requests?

Point the domain at your VPS

  1. In the registrar, set the nameservers or edit DNS records.
  2. Create an A record for your server IPv4 address and an AAAA record for IPv6.
  3. Wait for DNS to update, then request a certificate.
Check that DNS resolves
dig +short A example.com
dig +short AAAA example.com

Limits to remember

  • Registrars may still hold your details and must follow the law.
  • Domain history can be recorded by third parties.
  • A domain tied to your real name elsewhere is a link.

Next steps

Continue with hosting a website on a VPS and read about anonymous offshore web hosting.

FAQ

Common questions

Does WHOIS privacy make a domain anonymous?

It hides your details from the public record. The registrar still has them.

Can I pay for a domain in crypto?

Some registrars accept it. Check each registrar's current options.

Keep reading

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