However, most DNS registrars offer privacy protection of WHOIS data. Because of this, the utility of the WHOIS data is already reduced. And to track some libel offender down, one probably better goes for the IP address. But how do I know whom to contact for some IP address? Answer: reverse DNS lookup and whois.

Therefore, I think WHOIS should remain to provide some traceable accountability for public statements made by pepole. If you want to protect your home phone number, don't put it into the registrar's database, or enable the privacy option by your registrar.

I know, I shouldn't tease you about being 'internet stalked'. I am sure it can be terrifying somehow for a guy who puts his website address and full name in the comments. Not so hard to find your blog when you post it along with the comment.

And by the way, no whois that I have ever been to (which is a few hundred) have ever had the ability to search by Personal Name. I think you are mistaken that whois is the chink in your elaborate internet armor. I apologize for sounding like a jackass, but I am. It peaves me to no end that misinformation like this is why my grandmother is afraid to look at gardening websites for fear someone will steal her identity. Stop FUDding, and learn how to use the system to protect yourself.

I know, I shouldn't tease you about being 'internet stalked'. I am sure it can be terrifying somehow for a guy who puts his website address and full name in the comments. Not so hard to find your blog when you post it along with the comment.

And by the way, no whois that I have ever been to (which is a few hundred) have ever had the ability to search by Personal Name. I think you are mistaken that whois is the chink in your elaborate internet armor. I apologize for sounding like a jackass, but I am. It peaves me to no end that misinformation like this is why my grandmother is afraid to look at gardening websites for fear someone will steal her identity. Stop FUDding, and learn how to use the system to protect yourself.

I'm not sure why 'normal' people should be privy to that kind of information – or if they are, it should only allow the very basic details: name, state, country, not phone number, inside leg measurement and favourite Kevin Smith film as it does now. :)

I’m not sure why ‘normal’ people should be privy to that kind of information – or if they are, it should only allow the very basic details: name, state, country, not phone number, inside leg measurement and favourite Kevin Smith film as it does now. :)

My 3 cents.

Whois info verifies what DNS servers are authoritative for a domain, and helps me to show my company's clients that "no, we aren't doing the DNS hosting for that domain anymore – look here, at the whois info" or simply to tell them, "please contact ABC, Inc. who run the name servers for your domain; they can update the DNS for http://www.xyz.com to point to our servers" and so on.

So, I think WHOIS is invaluable and necessary. I understand the privacy concerns, and I'm fine with anonymized contact info in the domain, but for business, some valid contact info and the listing for the authoritative name servers are necessary.