WhoisGuard Privacy Protection is now free

At Namecheap, we care about your privacy and are now giving ALL our Namecheap customers FREE WhoisGuard for life, when they register a domain* with us. This important change supports our strong belief in privacy, security, freedom and the equal treatment for all internet users.

Suddenly, they care about my privacy, whereas all the previous years they were soliciting subscriptions to their WhoisGuard service with each new registration or renewal order.

What a coincidence! And what an unfortunate choice of wording to their existing customers. (Apparently, I was very upset when I got this emailed)

Re: WhoisGuard Privacy Protection is now free

#6

Post by tcd » Tue, May 29, 2018, 12:37 PM UTC

> Because at Namecheap, we care about your privacy protection.

Only when we can stop profiting from selling privacy services because of a new law that came into effect a few days ago.

I'd have believed them if they did this 2 years ago once GDPR was announced. Already moved my domains from namecheap since they are not the cheapest and didn't offer free whois until now.

Re: WhoisGuard Privacy Protection is now free

#7

Post by lexalizer » Tue, May 29, 2018, 12:38 PM UTC

stratosgear wrote: post #5

_xgw wrote: post #2

Is this because of the new GDPR regulations?

You bet it is! I was also emailed: At Namecheap, we care about your privacy and are now giving ALL our Namecheap customers FREE WhoisGuard for life, when they register a domain* with us. This important change supports our strong belief in privacy, security, freedom and the equal treatment for all internet users. Suddenly, they care about my privacy, whereas all the previous years they were soliciting subscriptions to…

Expect the domain renewal price to include this cost in the future.

Re: WhoisGuard Privacy Protection is now free

#8

Post by chris_overseas » Tue, May 29, 2018, 12:40 PM UTC

Can someone explain in more detail why they aren't able why they aren't able to cover certain TLDs (including several falling under GDPR in the EU)? Their FAQ says: "Due to registry restrictions, WhoisGuard cannot be used with .asia, .ca, .cn, .uk, .co.uk, .de, .eu, .in, .id, .me, .uk, .nu, .li, .ch, .fr, .sg, .com.sg, .org.uk, .us, .es, .com.es, .nom.es, .org.es, .com.au, .net.au, .paris, .vote, .voto, .xn--3ds443g, .nyc, or .org.au domains."

Re: WhoisGuard Privacy Protection is now free

#9

Post by xedsvg » Tue, May 29, 2018, 12:41 PM UTC

_xgw wrote: post #2

Is this because of the new GDPR regulations?

Yes. It’s a marketing thing. (Someone correct me if i’m wrong) As I know, all domain name sellers should default to privacy (aka Whois guard) due to GDPR.

Re: WhoisGuard Privacy Protection is now free

#10

Post by keltex » Tue, May 29, 2018, 12:43 PM UTC

It's always been free at google domains.

https://domains.google/#/