What are domain privacy and domain locking?

So, you’ve just found the perfect domain name. The one that’s going to launch your business, blog, or next big idea. You’re ready to make it official, slap it onto your new website, and start taking over the internet. But hold on a second, before you hit ‘purchase,’ there are two settings you absolutely need to know about: domain privacy and domain locking.

These might sound like technical extras, the kind of stuff you’d assume doesn’t apply to you, but ignoring them is like leaving your front door unlocked and hoping no one walks in. So, with that all said, it’s time to break it down.

Domain Privacy Keeps Your Personal Info Out of the Wrong Hands

Here’s something most people don’t seem to realise: when you register for a domain, your personal details automatically go into a public database called WHOIS. That’s right, your name, email, phone number, and even your home address are just sitting there, waiting for spammers, scammers, and dodgy marketers to scoop them up.

But domain privacy could essentially be seen as an ‘online bodyguard”, so instead of plastering your details all over the internet, your domain registrar swaps them out for generic information. That means no more spam, no more scam calls, and no risk of dodgy people trying to ‘buy’ your domain from you in some sketchy way.

Why You Need a Domain Privacy

• Stops your inbox from becoming a spam dumpster: Basically, once your email gets picked up by spambots, there’s no going back (even when your info is removed, it’s still easy to find and it’s probably being sold and passed around online too).
• Keeps your details out of the hands of scammers: If cybercriminals can’t find your personal info, they can’t use it against you. Besides, nowadays, online scams are getting very elaborate thanks to AI. So this is a nice layer of protection.
• Protects your home address: Like what was mentioned earlier, this is essentially all your information. If you’re running a business from home, the last thing you want is your personal address floating around on the web, right?

Most domain registrars offer domain privacy as an add-on (sometimes even for free). And honestly, it’s one of the easiest and cheapest ways to protect yourself online.

Domain Locking is Like a “No Entry” Sign

So just imagine this scenario for a moment: you wake up, you check your website, and for whatever reason, it’s just gone. What even happened? Well, someone transferred your domain away from you without your permission. Now sure, it sounds ridiculous, right? But unfortunately, it happens more than you’d think.

This is exactly why you need domain locking. When it’s enabled, it stops unauthorised domain transfers dead in their tracks. Even if a hacker gets their hands on your domain details, they can’t move it to another registrar without you unlocking it first. 

Why You Should Turn on Domain Locking

• Cybercriminals can’t steal your domain: They can try, but they’ll get nowhere.
• Gives you full control: No one can move or tamper with your domain unless you say so.
• Adds an extra security layer: You can just think of it like putting a deadbolt on your front door.

A Few Clicks Can Save a Lot of Hassle

Buying a domain is exciting, but skipping out on domain privacy and domain locking is like posting your phone number on a billboard and then wondering why you’re getting calls from “tech support scammers.”. No one wants to deal with that!

So, before you hit “purchase” you should take those 30 extra seconds to turn these settings on, you’ll thank yourself in the future when your inbox isn’t overflowing with spam, and your details aren’t on the dark web for every single cyber criminal to take up for grabs. Instead, your domain will be safely locked down where it belongs.

SaneChoice provide domain privacy and domain locking features. Learn more about our business domain names.