A domain is the part of your online presence that most people forget to think about. Where it is registered, who can see your details and how you pay all affect your privacy and your control over it.
What "offshore domain" means
It usually means a domain registered through a provider outside your home country, often paid for with cryptocurrency and with minimal personal information. The domain name itself (the .com, .net or .org) is the same as any other, since the top-level registries set the rules for each extension.
What you cannot avoid
- ICANN rules. Registrars must collect contact data for each domain and keep it on file. Many extensions have their own extra rules.
- The WHOIS record. Contact details are no longer shown publicly for most gTLDs, but registrars can still release them under valid legal process.
- Abuse handling. Domains used for phishing, malware or other illegal activity can be suspended by the registry or registrar.
What you can choose
- Privacy protection. A proxy service replaces your details in public lookups.
- Payment method. Paying with cryptocurrency avoids tying a card or bank account to your domain.
- Extension. Some country-code extensions have stricter local requirements than .com, so check before you buy.
- Registrar location. It affects which courts and rules apply to the registrar itself.
Protect the domain itself
- Turn on registrar lock so that nobody can transfer it away.
- Use a strong, unique password and two-factor authentication on the account.
- Enable auto-renew, and keep funds ready. Expired domains are quickly bought by others.
- Register for several years if you can; it also looks slightly more trustworthy to some services.
- Enable DNSSEC where your provider supports it.
Common mistakes
- Registering through a web designer or host who keeps the account in their own name.
- Using a throwaway email that you can no longer access, which blocks transfers and renewal notices.
- Putting a domain used for something sensitive on the same account as your day-to-day business.
Next steps
Once you own a domain, point it at your server using our DNS guide. Hosting in a privacy-friendly country completes the picture; see what an offshore VPS is.