What is WHOIS information?

WHOIS is a public database that stores registration information for every domain name. When you register a domain, you must provide contact details that become part of the WHOIS record:

  • Registrant Contact: The domain owner's details (name, organisation, address, email, phone)
  • Administrative Contact: Person authorised to make changes to the domain
  • Technical Contact: Person handling technical issues
  • Billing Contact: Person handling billing and payments

For most individual domain owners, all four contacts are the same person or organisation.

Why keep WHOIS details accurate?

Maintaining accurate WHOIS information is crucial for several reasons:

  • Legal requirement: ICANN (International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) requires accurate registrant information. For .za domains, ZACR (ZA Central Registry) enforces similar requirements
  • Domain ownership verification: WHOIS proves you own the domain if disputes arise
  • Domain transfers: Accurate email addresses are required to approve domain transfers
  • Renewal notices: Registrars send expiry warnings to the WHOIS email address
  • Security notifications: Changes to your domain (nameservers, DNS, transfers) trigger security emails
  • Legal compliance: Incorrect information can result in domain suspension or loss

How to check your current WHOIS details

Method 1: Through client area

  1. Log in to the 0724 Hosting client area at https://ca.0724.co.za
  2. Click Domains in the top menu
  3. Select My Domains
  4. Click on the domain name you want to check
  5. The Domain Management page will display your current WHOIS status
  6. Click Edit WHOIS Information or WHOIS Details to view full details

Method 2: Public WHOIS lookup

Anyone can view public WHOIS information for domains (unless privacy protection is enabled):

  1. Visit a WHOIS lookup service like who.is or whois.net
  2. For .za domains, use the official ZACR lookup: https://www.registry.net.za/content.php?gen=1&contentid=27&title=Whois
  3. Enter your domain name and search
  4. Review the displayed contact information

How to update your WHOIS details

Step 1: Log in to the client area

Navigate to https://ca.0724.co.za and log in with your account credentials.

Step 2: Access your domains

  1. Click Domains in the top menu
  2. Select My Domains from the dropdown
  3. You will see a list of all domains registered or managed through your account

Step 3: Select the domain

  1. Click on the domain name you want to update
  2. You will be taken to the Domain Management page

Step 4: Edit WHOIS information

  1. Look for Edit WHOIS Information or WHOIS Details button
  2. Click to open the WHOIS editor
  3. You will see four sections: Registrant, Administrative, Technical, and Billing contacts

Step 5: Update contact details

Update the relevant fields:

  • First Name / Last Name: Full legal name (for individuals)
  • Organisation: Company or organisation name (for businesses)
  • Email Address: Active email you check regularly (critical for domain security)
  • Phone Number: Valid contact number with country code (e.g., +27 for South Africa)
  • Address: Physical street address
  • City, State/Province, Postcode: Full address details
  • Country: Select South Africa (ZA) or relevant country

Step 6: Copy details to all contacts (optional)

Most users have the same person as Registrant, Admin, Technical, and Billing contact. The client area provides a checkbox to copy details to all sections:

  • Check "Use Registrant Details for all contacts" or similar option
  • This automatically fills all four contact sections with the same information

Step 7: Save changes

  1. Review all information for accuracy
  2. Click Save Changes or Update WHOIS
  3. The client area will submit the update to the domain registry
  4. You will receive a confirmation message

WHOIS update timing and verification

After submitting WHOIS updates:

  • Processing time: Updates are usually processed within 15 minutes to 2 hours
  • Registry delays: Some TLDs (top-level domains) may take up to 24 hours to update
  • Email verification: For some TLDs, you must verify your email address by clicking a confirmation link
  • Verification required: Check your email (including spam folder) for verification requests from the registry
  • ICANN verification: Generic TLDs (.com, .net, .org) require annual email verification. Respond to ICANN verification emails within 15 days or your domain may be suspended

Special considerations for South African (.za) domains

For .co.za, .net.za, .org.za, and other .za domains:

  • ZACR regulations: .za domains are governed by ZACR (ZA Central Registry) with specific requirements
  • Registrant verification: Some .za domains require registrant identity verification
  • Contact details: ZACR recommends (but does not require) South African contact addresses for .za domains
  • No privacy protection: WHOIS privacy services are not available for .co.za domains — your details are always public
  • ZACR WHOIS lookup: Official .za WHOIS lookups are available at registry.net.za

WHOIS privacy protection

WHOIS privacy (also called Domain Privacy or WHOIS Protection) hides your personal contact details from public WHOIS lookups by replacing them with the privacy service's information.

Benefits of WHOIS privacy:

  • Protects personal information from public view
  • Reduces spam and unwanted marketing
  • Prevents data harvesting
  • Adds a layer of privacy protection

Limitations:

  • Not available for all TLDs: .co.za domains do not support WHOIS privacy
  • Not available for businesses: Some registries require business contact details to remain public
  • Additional cost: WHOIS privacy is an optional paid service

Enabling WHOIS privacy in the client area:

  1. Navigate to Domains → My Domains
  2. Click the domain you want to protect
  3. Look for ID Protection or WHOIS Privacy addon
  4. Click Enable or Purchase
  5. Complete the order and payment
  6. Privacy protection activates within 24 hours

What to do if WHOIS updates fail

If your WHOIS update fails or shows an error:

Common issues:

  • Invalid email format: Ensure email addresses are properly formatted
  • Missing required fields: All fields marked with an asterisk (*) must be filled
  • Invalid phone format: Use international format with country code (e.g., +27 21 123 4567)
  • Domain locked: Unlock the domain before updating WHOIS (see Domain Management page)
  • Transfer in progress: WHOIS cannot be updated during an active transfer
  • Registry restrictions: Some registries have specific validation rules for contact data

Troubleshooting steps:

  1. Check for error messages in the client area after submitting
  2. Verify all required fields are filled correctly
  3. Try using a different email address (some registries block certain email providers)
  4. Ensure the domain status is "Active" and not locked or suspended
  5. Wait 24 hours and check public WHOIS to confirm update
  6. If issues persist, contact 0724 Hosting support with your domain name and the error message

WHOIS verification emails (ICANN requirement)

For generic TLDs (.com, .net, .org, .info, etc.), ICANN requires registrants to verify their WHOIS email address:

When verification is required:

  • When you register a new domain
  • When you update the registrant email address in WHOIS
  • Annual verification (ICANN requires periodic re-verification)

What happens:

  1. You receive an email from the registry with subject like "Email Verification Required"
  2. The email contains a verification link
  3. You must click the link within 15 days
  4. Failure to verify results in domain suspension

Important notes:

  • Check spam/junk folders for verification emails
  • Verification emails come from the registry, not 0724 Hosting
  • Do not ignore these emails — your domain will be suspended if not verified
  • If you did not receive the verification email, you can request a resend in the client area

Best practices for WHOIS management

  • Use a reliable email address: Use an email you check regularly, not one that might be discontinued
  • Keep information current: Update WHOIS if you move, change phone numbers, or switch email addresses
  • Use a business email for business domains: Avoid personal emails for company domains
  • Enable WHOIS privacy for personal domains: Protect your personal information for .com/.net/.org domains
  • Monitor verification emails: Respond promptly to ICANN verification requests
  • Set up email forwarding: Consider using email forwarding to route domain-related emails to multiple addresses
  • Review annually: Check your WHOIS details once per year to ensure accuracy
  • Update before transferring: Ensure WHOIS email is accurate before initiating domain transfers

Legal implications of incorrect WHOIS data

Providing false or inaccurate WHOIS information can have serious consequences:

  • Domain suspension: Registrars can suspend domains with inaccurate WHOIS data
  • Domain cancellation: Persistent inaccuracies can result in domain cancellation
  • Legal liability: Providing false information violates ICANN policies and can result in legal action
  • Trademark disputes: Inaccurate WHOIS can weaken your position in trademark disputes
  • Transfer problems: Incorrect email addresses prevent domain transfer approvals

Getting help with WHOIS management

If you need assistance updating WHOIS details, resolving verification issues, or managing domain contacts, contact 0724 Hosting support. We can help with:

  • Updating WHOIS information if you cannot access your account
  • Resolving WHOIS update errors
  • Enabling or disabling WHOIS privacy
  • Handling ICANN verification issues
  • Understanding ZACR requirements for .za domains
  • Bulk WHOIS updates for multiple domains