WHOIS Lookup: Few Basics
As soon as you register a domain name you have to provide a lot of information such as name, address, email, phone number, as well as administrative and technical contacts. This information is often referred as “WHOIS data.� It is a service that is provided by registrar and registries for the domain names. The information is very useful. Let’s know some basics:
Uses of WHOIS It is used for many purposes. The data may be used for any lawful purposes, but there are some exceptions. You should not be using it for marketing or spam or enabling high volume, automated processes to query a registrar or registry systems. Besides helping you know domain name registrants, the data also allows network administrators to find and fix system problems. It also helps in maintaining the stability of the internet.
It also allows them to establish the availability of the domain name, helps them in combating fraud, helps in identifying trade infringements, and it also makes the domain name registrants more accountable. The data may also be used to track the registrants who are maybe posting illegal content or are engaged in phishing scams.
Maintaining Accuracy The ICANN requires that all the information in WHOIS Lookup is accurate until the registration period expires. Until recently, the registrations weren’t required to validate the information but those registrants who have signed ICANN’s agreement after 2013 have to necessarily validate the WHOIS data. As the information provided may change with time, so ICANN wants every registrar to provide at least one opportunity to review and correct their domain name registrations.
Those that are providing false information or not providing the information at all may have to forgo their registration
In The End WHOIS lookup provides valuable information to network administrators, cybersecurity professional and those needing it. So it is very crucial that it has all the updated information.