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Understanding WHOIS Data
Domain Registration Info
WHOIS provides key registration information including the registrar (company managing the domain), creation date, last update date, and expiration date. Monitoring expiration dates is crucial to avoid losing your domain.
Nameserver Configuration
Nameservers are the DNS servers that host your domain's DNS records. WHOIS shows which nameservers are authoritative for the domain, helping diagnose DNS issues and verify proper configuration.
Domain Status Codes
Status codes indicate the current state and restrictions on a domain. Common codes include transfer locks (clientTransferProhibited), update locks (clientUpdateProhibited), and hold statuses that may prevent the domain from resolving.
DNSSEC Protection
DNSSEC status shows whether the domain has DNS Security Extensions enabled, which cryptographically signs DNS records to prevent spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks. Domains with DNSSEC have enhanced security.
Privacy and GDPR Impact
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) has significantly changed WHOIS data availability. Before GDPR, WHOIS records included personal contact information like names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of domain registrants.
Now, most personal data is redacted to protect privacy. Only technical information like registrar, registration dates, nameservers, and domain status remains public. Organizations can still register domains under business names to make contact information public if desired.
Law enforcement and trademark holders can still access full WHOIS data through special channels established by ICANN and registrars.
Security Use Cases
- 1.Phishing Detection: Newly registered domains (less than 30 days old) are often used for phishing attacks. Check creation dates for suspicious emails.
- 2.Domain Monitoring: Regularly check your domains to ensure registration details haven't been changed without authorization (domain hijacking).
- 3.Expiration Tracking: Monitor domains approaching expiration to avoid accidental lapses that could allow competitors or attackers to register them.
- 4.Infrastructure Mapping: Identify domains sharing nameservers or registrars to map related infrastructure or potential threat actor campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the WHOIS Lookup
WHOIS is a public database that contains registration information about domain names. It typically includes the registrar, registration dates (created, updated, expires), nameservers, domain status, and DNSSEC information. Due to GDPR privacy regulations, personal contact information is now often redacted.
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âšī¸ Disclaimer
This tool is provided for informational and educational purposes only. All processing happens entirely in your browser - no data is sent to or stored on our servers. While we strive for accuracy, we make no warranties about the completeness or reliability of results. Use at your own discretion.