btw. what is the main advantage in that even the registrar does not know who owns the domain? Of course, we talking about legal, non-fraud service on them.
My perspective: I don’t do anything illegal, so the only potential reason for any
official investigation of me is harassment for too much free speech. (Yes, that is a real possibility!) But...
What about
data breaches: Do you trust the security of the registrar’s internal database, such ICANN systems as may have network access to that database, and every system in between? Do you trust all employees with privileged network access at all relevant organizations? Do you know how much hacked dox stuff is sloshing around on teh darkwebz, being traded between fraudsters and identity thieves?
(Not to mention the types who purport to offer hitman services.)What about
“marketing”, i.e., surveillance capitalism: Have you read every word of the registrar’s legal terms and privacy policy? Are you assured that the information you provide for WHOIS is,
and forever will be, only and exclusively used for ICANN mandated purposes? Even if (
if) the registrar promises that, do you trust that promise? Will you trust it tomorrow, if the registrar goes bankrupt or is acquired?
What about
non-“official” criminals: From behind Tor, I have sometimes angered people who claimed to have actual mafia connections. That was probably just stupid empty bragging by them, but—why should I take that risk? Over the years, on the Internet, I have also sometimes been treated to death threats—and to lurid and
graphic fantasies about what somebody out there wanted to do to my real or imaginary wife/girlfriend/children
(none of your business if I have these things or don’t), my mother
(sorry, she’s dead), my dog
(no, he will bite you in half!), etc., etc. Why should I take the risk that any of them could be serious?
All of the above was written on or about 2 October, and stuck in my local drafts directory with many other things that get posted late or never. It seems eerie, reading it now.
More criminals: What about “SWATting”? Do you really want to bet that the scum who do this
cannot obtain your information from your registrar:
They don’t want to know who you are.
This is the most important about Njalla. They do not want to know who are buying their domains.
If they dont know who you are, then they cant tell anyone .
If they don’t know who you are, they can’t have your information hacked, leaked, or otherwise stolen—used for surveillance-capitalism marketing and profiling purposes—or otherwise
abused.Practical privacy requires the
principle of least privilege.
Disclose information only on a need-to-know basis. The only information that is truly safe is the information that you never give out in the first place.
If you are using Tor, it means that you probably want some reasonably strong privacy. But using Tor to establish a pseudonym, and then giving your real dox info to a registrar under so-called “WhoisGuard” or whatever, is like stabbing a condom repeatedly with a fork, and then using it to have sex with an individual who is known to be HIV-positive. It’s just a bad idea from start to finish. With all due apologies for the graphic analogy: I really want to drive the point home here!
Sadly I already bought the domain using namesilo. I didn't know about that opition. THanks for sharing.
I have had passable experience with them, though these things sometimes change over time. Their customer service is good, and their prices are some of the best in the market. I have heard that if you use a payment card (even a legitimately purchased prepaid debit card) plus Tor, they will lock you out of your account, and you may lose money/domains. I can’t confirm that, and it never happened to me; I have only used Bitcoin with them. —You’re welcome. :-)
I didn't know Njalla, too bad that this site did not exist 10 years ago
Another problem is that Satoshi could not pay with Bitcoin before he invented it, published the Bitcoin software, and publicized it with a website. ;-)
There are also Anonymousspeech (or a name similar) and Katzglobal working similar but I just know by name. Never used and don't know their reputation.
Thanks. I know of
Anonymous Speech, but cannot report on them. I will look into Katzglobal someday; it is always good to have more options handy.