Finding out who owns a website

MSE_Martin

Knowing who owns a website is always a useful way to help check legitimacy.

There are two main sites for doing this

For Dot Coms
http://www.internic.com/whois.html

For Dot co dot UK
https://www.nic.uk/whois

However for an easy way to search both try
http://www.ssi-ltd.com/services/domain-whois.asp
The information isn't that user friendly, but it works, and often (though not always) can help find a phone number or contact address.

scheming_gypsy

I always use https://www.coolwhois.com if i need to..

Woby_Tide

nic.co.uk is coming back as invalid?

Also I thought .co.uk domain information was private, or unavailable via the whois lookups unlike the .com's etc controlled from the US  ???

edit: although it does appear to be available now for .co.uk's, thats a shame needed that a while back and couldn't get details of some domains for love nor money

isasmurf

All UK domains are processed through nominet.org.uk. Using their whois database will bring up the owner of any UK domain. Although, some registrars do give the option of 'hiding' your details by registering the domain under their name and address instead of the actual owners name and address.

duncanc

Nominet link should be:
http://www.nic.uk/whois/

wirm

Although, some registrars do give the option of 'hiding' your details by registering the domain under their name and address instead of the actual owners name and address.

Sorry but your wrong.
Firstly when buying a domain name ALL registrars MUST give you the option of hiding your details. its the law.
And secondly they just add your name but keep your address/email address etc. out of the database.

isasmurf

Sorry but your wrong.
Firstly when buying a domain name ALL registrars MUST give you the option of hiding your details. its the law.

OK I stand corrected. :-/
Didn't know it was the law. When I registered my domain I was never offered the opportunity to have my details hidden.

wirm

Its normally one of those tiny tick boxes. They don't make them very obvious!

spookmeister

I use another website called https://www.netnames.co.uk which tells me what domain names are available but does an equally good job at tell me who owns what.

You don't need to log in or register. At the top of the page just click [glow=blue,2,300]SEARCH.[/glow] Enter the domain name and the relevant suffix (.com, etc) then ok.

Then click more info in the lookup column and hey presto.

Your whois appears before your very eyes.

S.

Donnie

There's no need to go through all that palaver. There is a 'whois' button in the top right hand corner.

xmfclick

Or you could try http://easily.co.uk -- type the domain name root (e.g. moneysavingexpert) and they will search for .com, .net, .org and .uk variants