• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Jobs
  • Career
    • Cyber Security Training
    • Work from Home
    • Cyber Security Analyst
    • Remote Work – Six Ways to Keep Your Data Safe When Working Remotely
  • Field Guide
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Deals
  • News
AskCyberSecurity.com

AskCyberSecurity.com

Cyber Security News & Information

  • Home
  • Data Privacy
    • Gamers
    • Government Cyber Security
      • Legislation
      • Standards
        • What are the risks of computer security?
        • Medical Cyber Security
    • Social Media
  • Security
    • Data Breaches
    • Scams
    • Malware
  • Software
    • Apps
    • Web Browsers
  • Glossary
    • Cyber Security Acronyms
  • About Ask Cyber Security
    • Authors
    • Contact Us
  • VPN
    • How Do I Know If My VPN is Working?
    • Best Free VPN iPhone
    • Why Use a VPN?
    • NordVPN vs IPVanish
    • Private Internet Access Download
    • Best VPN for Streaming
      • TikTok VPN
    • VPN Porn
    • Computer Security Software – What You Really Need
  • Tutorials
  • ChatGPT
    • Does ChatGPT Save Data?
AskCyber Home » News » website security » How To Buy a Domain Anonymously

How To Buy a Domain Anonymously

2019-10-25 by Michelle Dvorak

Buy Domain Anonymously

Steps to Buy a Domain Name Anonymously Including Using Tor, Private Registration, Cryptocurrency

To buy a domain name anonymously, you will need to take a few extra steps when purchasing to protect your identity so you can setup your website privately. All domain name purchases and the buyer’s contact information are listed on a public database where anyone can look up payment method that cannot be traced to you.

When you register a domain name, called a Top-Level Domain Name (TLD), it is purchased and registered using a domain name registrar service. Most website hosting companies also sell domain names. People buy a domain name and must pay an annual fee to renew and retain the website URL. The name, the buyer’s information, and the registrar’s information are all registered with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) which maintains a public, online database of domain owners. If you don’t take measures to protect your identity your name, address, and contact information are all publicly available through a simple web search of ICANN’s WHOIS database.

Why Buy a Domain Name Anonymously?

In addition to protecting your privacy, anonymous domain registration offers a number of advantages and is not just for hackers or those looking to scam the public. Buying a domain name anonymously prevents spammers from getting your personal information. It stops the litany of online service providers like SEO companies, email providers, and advertisers from contacting you trying to sell services.

There is an old internet business scam where competing domain name registrars send emails and postal mail to website owners trying to convince them that their website needs to be renewed. Sometimes the registrar is simply a competitor trying to gain the website renewal business, other times they are a scammer looking to take control of the website and lock it up away from its owner. Buying a domain name anonymously prevents this from happening.

How to Buy A Domain Anonymously

1. Use a private web browser like Tor Browser or Brave Browser
2. Use a shell corporation to register the domain name
3. Use a quality VPN service when buying
4. Pay with a prepaid credit card or cryptocurrency
5. Use an email address that is only used for this domain registrar
6. Buy from a domain registrar that accepts your payment method
7. Register the domain privately

Get Fast and Secure Website Hosting
Website Builing Made Easy

Buy A Domain Privately

Private domain registration is an add-on service that many domain registrars offer and charge an extra annual fee for. Normally, when you buy a domain name, your information is listed publicly in the ICANN databases. When you buy a domain privately, the registrar’s information is listed as the contact information. So, the domain name purchase is not anonymous, however it is private.

Use a Private Web Browser and VPN

If you want to remain completely anonymous, even from the domain name registrar, then you will have to buy your domain name anonymously while using a private web browser like Tor or Brave while connected to a virtual private network, or VPN.

For example, if you go to your local coffee shop to set up your website and are using a public WiFi connection there you are completely traceable. Security cameras inside or outside of the coffee shop can identity you using facial recognition. Your activity online is easily accessible and most likely tracked for marketing purposes by the network owner.

By the way, if you are using the public WiFi connection in a coffee shop to do anything online, then read my post on why you shouldn’t do that. Even it is only to check use a messaging app like Snapchat or post on social media, you are putting your personal information and money at risk.

Using a VPN to route your internet traffic outside the coffee shop and possibly get an IP address outside of the country is the best way to make your purchase private. You will also need to use a private web browser before you connect to the internet to block tracking cookies from the domain name registrar.

Start Training at Training.LinuxFoundation.org!
Improve your skills, better your prospects, and make more money!

You can also go as far as to set up a shell corporation that is used only to make this purchase and shield you from personal association with the website. If you do incorporate, then you may be listed with the state of incorporation and required to file taxes or other paperwork that leaves a trail of information.

Secure Payment Methods

Payment methods are the most difficult part. To remain anonymous from the domain name registrar, you will have to pick up a prepaid credit card. Paying for the card in cash is best, but that may result in you being recorded on security cameras when you pick up the card. If you have Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency and have a domain registrar that accepts it, then you can use that as payment information.

Filed Under: website security

About Michelle Dvorak

Michelle writes about cyber security, data privacy focusing on social media privacy as well as how to protect your IoT devices. She has worked in internet technology for over 20 years and owns METRONY, LLC. Michelle earned a B.S. in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Michelle published a guide to Cyber Security for Business Travelers


LinkedInTwitterFacebook

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter

We Don't Share or Sell Your Info

Web Browsers

Where Are My Saved Passwords in Chrome?

Google Removes 70 Malicious Browser Add-ons from Chrome Web Store

Firefox 75 Reports Your Browser Settings to Mozilla

Categories

Cyber Security Field Guide

Computer Security While TravelingGet Our Cyber Security Field Guide - Available on Amazon!

Recent Posts

Security Marketing Manager – Remote

Sr. Associate, Cybersecurity Architect – Pfizer

Strategic Customer Success Manager – Cybersecurity – Opportunity for Working Remotely

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

ISU Cybersecurity Leader Job Opening

Cyber Security News

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

… [Read More...] about Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

… [Read More...] about Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

… [Read More...] about IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

… [Read More...] about National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

More Cyber Security News

Tags

amazon Android Apple bitcoin China chrome CISA credit card DarkSide DHS DOJ Equifax Europe Facebook facial recognition FBI Firefox FTC games GDPR Google Government hacker identity theft India iPhone Iran IRS LinkedIn Microsoft North Korea PayPal phishing phishing email ransomware REvil Russia smartphone T-Mobile TikTok tutorial VPN WhatsApp WiFi Windows

Government

CBP Looks to Access Airline Passenger Data

FTC Releases Cyber Threat Video Playlist

Malware Found on US Government Funded Phones

UK NCA Reaches Out to Youth to Deter Cybercrimes

More Posts from this Category

Footer

Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Authors
  • Newsletter Signup
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Search

Why Use a VPN?

NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN Review

NAVIGATION

  • Data Breaches
  • Data Privacy
  • Gamers
  • Scams
  • Malware

MEMBER NJCCIC

New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell

STAY CONNECTED

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Copyright © 2023 · AskCyberSecurity.com · METRONY, LLC

Go to mobile version