Question 1

What is WHOIS?

Accepted Answer

WHOIS is a query and response protocol widely used for querying databases that store the registration information of a domain name or an IP address block. It can provide details like the domain owner, registrar, registration dates, and name servers.

Question 2

What kind of information can I get from a WHOIS lookup?

Accepted Answer

A WHOIS lookup can provide details such as the domain name, registrar information, registration and expiration dates, updated date, name servers, domain status, and contact information for the registrant, administrative, and technical contacts (though this may be redacted for privacy).

Question 3

Is WHOIS information public?

Accepted Answer

Most domain registration information is publicly accessible. However, some registrars offer privacy protection services that mask personal contact details. This means while you can see the domain name and registrar, the actual owner's contact information may be hidden.

Question 4

Why would I use a WHOIS lookup tool?

Accepted Answer

You might use a WHOIS lookup to find out who owns a domain name, to check the expiration date of a domain, to identify the registrar, or to troubleshoot network issues related to domain configuration. It can also be used to gather information for contacting a domain owner regarding business opportunities or legal matters.

Question 5

How accurate is WHOIS information?

Accepted Answer

Registrants are generally required to provide accurate WHOIS information. However, some information might be outdated or intentionally obscured through privacy services. Registrars are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the data.

Question 6

What is WHOIS privacy or domain privacy?

Accepted Answer

WHOIS privacy (or domain privacy) is a service offered by many domain registrars that replaces the registrant's personal information in the public WHOIS record with generic contact information for the privacy service. This helps protect the domain owner's identity from spammers and data miners.

Question 7

What does "DNSSEC: unsigned" or "DNSSEC: signed" mean?

Accepted Answer

DNSSEC stands for Domain Name System Security Extensions. "Signed" means that DNSSEC is enabled for the domain, providing an extra layer of security by verifying that DNS responses are authentic and have not been tampered with. "Unsigned" means DNSSEC is not enabled.

Question 8

What do different domain statuses like 'clientTransferProhibited' mean?

Accepted Answer

Domain statuses indicate the state of a domain. For example, 'clientTransferProhibited' means the domain cannot be transferred to another registrar, which is a common protection against unauthorized transfers. Other statuses can indicate redemption periods, pending deletions, or active status.

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WHOIS Lookup

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