Free Domain Privacy Protection
Every domain registered through WordPress.com includes privacy protection at no extra charge.
Keeping your data safe is as important to us as it is to you. Privacy protection for domains that are registered at WordPress.com is now free, so you don’t have to choose between your site and your security.
What is domain privacy protection?
When you register a new domain, you have to provide personal contact information. This information is stored at WHOIS, a database containing the details of every registered domain.
In the past, WHOIS made this information publicly accessible unless you opted in to — and paid extra for — privacy protection. If you chose not to buy privacy protection (or couldn’t afford to), spammers and marketing firms could look up your domain and get access to your name, address, email, phone number, and other information about you or your business.
Privacy protection replaces this public information with generic data, so WHOIS gets the necessary details but keeps your personal info safe from prying internet eyes — but at a cost.
What’s changing?
In May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect for EU citizens. It resulted in changes to WHOIS that, in many cases, prevent contact information from being publicly published whether or not someone purchases enhanced privacy for a domain.
We’re committed to protecting your data and believe online safety shouldn’t depend on where in the world you live, so from now on, every domain registered through WordPress.com also includes privacy protection at no extra charge.
How do I turn it on?
Head to My Site > Domains, pick a domain, and turn Privacy Protection on. If it’s blue, you’re all set. If not, toggle the setting to turn it on!
- March 6, 2019
- Domains, Privacy, settings, WordPress.com
WordPress.com News 
Really helpful, thank you for this.
LikeLiked by 9 people
That’s a nice touch, much appreciated!
LikeLiked by 8 people
Seems like an important extra, free is great. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 10 people
Thanks for the great news, I see the GDPR effect is trickling down and over and up with the privacy thing. Certainly getting more bloggers and site owners to take note both with being compliant and with knowing how much of their data gets shared when folks look up domain names.
LikeLiked by 6 people