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The ability to have my whois record anonymous (for free) by registering through Dreamhost is a big plus to me. I have a couple of private servers on DH which e

The ability to have my whois record anonymous (for free) by registering through Dreamhost is a big plus to me. I have a couple of private servers on DH which entitles me to free "live chat" with support. This story makes me wonder if I should open up another account, and put one of my private servers on it, so if something happens to one account, I use the other one to make contact with support.

dfranke 17y ago
The fact that you're even considering that sort of hack probably means that you should be more strongly considering looking elsewhere.
- dotBen 17y ago
  The fact he is running sites that want to be anonymized and he feels there is a high chance of "something happening" to them means everyone else should consider looking elsewhere. Don't put up home in the ghetto.
  - pyre 17y ago
    > he feels there is a high chance of "something happening" Where did he state that he feels there is a 'high chance?' If I encrypt my hard drive, does that mean I feel there is a 'high chance' of law enforcement coming after me and that I must be doing something 'bad?' > The fact he is running sites that want to be anonymized WHOIS records are only 'supposed' to be used to contact the site admin, etc. That said, when my WHOIS records were public I used to get a ton of junk snail mail. Especially from other domain registrars or 'protection services' wanting me to jump on board with them. The fact that he doesn't want his phone number and address connected to a domain doesn't mean that he wants the domain 'anonymized.' He just doesn't want someone to be able to Google his name and get a phone number and address. > Don't put up home in the ghetto. So the fact that a person wants a site to be 'anonymous' means that it's by definition a sleazy site? What about a forum for abused women? Should the site admin be forced to be contacted/harassed by possessive (and potentially violent) men that are trying to find where their girlfriend/wife that ran away is?
    - dotBen 17y ago
      > "Where did he state that he feels there is a 'high chance?'" He didn't but the fact cryptnoob felt the need to mention it suggests he/she is concerned about. I myself don't go around registering multiple accounts "in case something happens" to one of the accounts. Do you? >"WHOIS records are only 'supposed' to be used to contact the site admin, etc" Dude, cry me a river. I own a shit ton of domains and so I get that spam all the time. The spirit of the rules around public record of WHOIS data (for com/net/org at least) is that someone can be contacted for technical and administrative reasons about the domain. It's a reasonable rule and so if people fundamentally disagree with it perhaps they should lobby ICANN/etc. From my own experience running a web hosting business in the past that most people who anonymize their WHOIS details are doing so for suspicious reasons. > "So the fact that a person wants a site to be 'anonymous' means that it's by definition a sleazy site?" No, and my apologies for not being clearer on that - perhaps the word "ghetto" wasn't what I meant. What I meant was shared hosting is like being in the ghetto - you are at the mercy of your neighbors on the same server. An account on the same box sharing warez forums is going to affect YOUR site's performance. > "Should the site admin be forced to be contacted/harassed by possessive (and potentially violent) men that are trying to find where their girlfriend/wife that ran away is?" As someone whose domestic partner is a leading voice in women's rights online, who receives regular abuse and has had numerous death threats, I can assure you I am very familiar with this subject. There is a difference between anonymous (read:un-contactable) whois vs using a business address or mailbox where you can receive communication but is not your private residence, etc.
      - cryptnoob 17y ago
        I own a shit ton of domains Well, you're the expert. Who am I to argue with anybody who owns a "shit ton" of domains? As someone whose domestic partner ...has had numerous death threats OK, on this, I'd say you're a liar. Anybody actually in that situation, I guarantee, would understand perfectly why anonymity on the net is often considered important to people. You are either a complete dolt, or a liar (or both, I suppose) I enjoy the convenience DH offers me in keeping my name out of Google. My reasons have nothing to do with whether or not my sites are sleezy. They're not. Privacy for myself and my family is not something I should need to justify to some random git (look it up) on HN.

dfranke 17y ago

The fact that you're even considering that sort of hack probably means that you should be more strongly considering looking elsewhere.

dotBen 17y ago
The fact he is running sites that want to be anonymized and he feels there is a high chance of "something happening" to them means everyone else should consider looking elsewhere. Don't put up home in the ghetto.
- pyre 17y ago
  > he feels there is a high chance of "something happening" Where did he state that he feels there is a 'high chance?' If I encrypt my hard drive, does that mean I feel there is a 'high chance' of law enforcement coming after me and that I must be doing something 'bad?' > The fact he is running sites that want to be anonymized WHOIS records are only 'supposed' to be used to contact the site admin, etc. That said, when my WHOIS records were public I used to get a ton of junk snail mail. Especially from other domain registrars or 'protection services' wanting me to jump on board with them. The fact that he doesn't want his phone number and address connected to a domain doesn't mean that he wants the domain 'anonymized.' He just doesn't want someone to be able to Google his name and get a phone number and address. > Don't put up home in the ghetto. So the fact that a person wants a site to be 'anonymous' means that it's by definition a sleazy site? What about a forum for abused women? Should the site admin be forced to be contacted/harassed by possessive (and potentially violent) men that are trying to find where their girlfriend/wife that ran away is?
  - dotBen 17y ago
    > "Where did he state that he feels there is a 'high chance?'" He didn't but the fact cryptnoob felt the need to mention it suggests he/she is concerned about. I myself don't go around registering multiple accounts "in case something happens" to one of the accounts. Do you? >"WHOIS records are only 'supposed' to be used to contact the site admin, etc" Dude, cry me a river. I own a shit ton of domains and so I get that spam all the time. The spirit of the rules around public record of WHOIS data (for com/net/org at least) is that someone can be contacted for technical and administrative reasons about the domain. It's a reasonable rule and so if people fundamentally disagree with it perhaps they should lobby ICANN/etc. From my own experience running a web hosting business in the past that most people who anonymize their WHOIS details are doing so for suspicious reasons. > "So the fact that a person wants a site to be 'anonymous' means that it's by definition a sleazy site?" No, and my apologies for not being clearer on that - perhaps the word "ghetto" wasn't what I meant. What I meant was shared hosting is like being in the ghetto - you are at the mercy of your neighbors on the same server. An account on the same box sharing warez forums is going to affect YOUR site's performance. > "Should the site admin be forced to be contacted/harassed by possessive (and potentially violent) men that are trying to find where their girlfriend/wife that ran away is?" As someone whose domestic partner is a leading voice in women's rights online, who receives regular abuse and has had numerous death threats, I can assure you I am very familiar with this subject. There is a difference between anonymous (read:un-contactable) whois vs using a business address or mailbox where you can receive communication but is not your private residence, etc.
    - cryptnoob 17y ago
      I own a shit ton of domains Well, you're the expert. Who am I to argue with anybody who owns a "shit ton" of domains? As someone whose domestic partner ...has had numerous death threats OK, on this, I'd say you're a liar. Anybody actually in that situation, I guarantee, would understand perfectly why anonymity on the net is often considered important to people. You are either a complete dolt, or a liar (or both, I suppose) I enjoy the convenience DH offers me in keeping my name out of Google. My reasons have nothing to do with whether or not my sites are sleezy. They're not. Privacy for myself and my family is not something I should need to justify to some random git (look it up) on HN.