If you want to find the real-time address or legitimacy of a website, you can easily track the domain owner through a Domain Whois lookup. Performing a lookup only takes three simple steps. Copy the site URL, paste it, and submit it to receive domain information. Some websites may have private registrations but the majority of sites are open for all to see.

Domain WHOIS: Providing Contact and Registration Information Problems

Privacy is one of the biggest concerns for Domain WHOIS because it allows an individual’s personal information to be accessed by anyone on the Internet. Contact details like telephone numbers and addresses can be viewed by virtually anyone on most domains. Some registrars provide private registrations, but this will mean the ownership of the domain will belong to the “private registration company”, not the real owner. In private registration, it can also be difficult for an individual to confirm their registration status.

Spammers often use WHOIS requests to gather email addresses. To safeguard against this, most WHOIS websites and servers use special systems like CAPTCHA, which require users to type in numbers or letters from a picture.

Domain history records are another security concern with Domain WHOIS. When a domain has been sold or moved, the previous information will still remain in the history archives. Some servers do not automatically cache and monitor domain records that are queried through their system, which makes WHOIS history available in partial form. Most information from WHOIS servers can become obsolete quickly. For example, if a registrant moves to a new home or office, they may not always place the updated information on the server, so users accessing this information will be provided with obsolete data. Email addresses used to administer domains are often discarded after a period of time, but user queries may still be forwarded to the unused mailbox.