I stumbled across this FBI training resource the other day, (Lawful Access to Secure Messaging Apps Data)[https://propertyofthepeople.org/document-detail/?doc-id=21114562], and was wondering if some domain registrars were more private/secure than others. I know that generally buying domain names is not very private or secure, but are some registrars better than others?
Ask HN: Secure Domain Name Registrars?
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Re: Ask HN: Secure Domain Name Registrars?
#210 years ago I once purchased a domain from a provider who only needed an email address and cash in an envelope (among other payment methods, I used paypal). The website and everything around it was shady but I thought for privacy I'll try. A couple of years later they demanded a copy of my passport to cancel. Renewing (giving them more money) was apparently fine, but cancelling required a passport. I let the domain expire and although it was empty immediately the domain parked, luckily a year later released again. I'm not naming the registrar, it was a bad experience overall. I'm sure there's still some registrars like this around.
Re: Ask HN: Secure Domain Name Registrars?
#3I know about njal.la offhand, you might check them out?
https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-founder-launches-anonymo...
Re: Ask HN: Secure Domain Name Registrars?
#410 years ago I once purchased a domain from a provider who only needed an email address and cash in an envelope (among other payment methods, I used paypal). The website and everything around it was shady but I thought for privacy I'll try. A couple of years later they demanded a copy of my passport to cancel. Renewing (giving them more money) was apparently fine, but cancelling required a passport. I let the domain…
My experience is, from watching some domains, and my own ones; almost every registrar now keeps the domain for 1 year. Some put a parking page, some just update the whois to reflect that domain can be bought.
Re: Ask HN: Secure Domain Name Registrars?
#510 years ago I once purchased a domain from a provider who only needed an email address and cash in an envelope (among other payment methods, I used paypal). The website and everything around it was shady but I thought for privacy I'll try. A couple of years later they demanded a copy of my passport to cancel. Renewing (giving them more money) was apparently fine, but cancelling required a passport. I let the domain…
It's plausible that they set higher id requirements for cancelling because some random person renewing doesn't harm the domain owner, but cancelling may cause a lot of harm.