After purchasing a domain name, you may find that you have received spam email. Unfortunately, this is a common issue that affects a lot of people. You can safely delete the spam emails - and you should never reply to them or click on any links.
Here's why it happens:
When any domain name is registered, all of the information is entered into a database registry called "WhoIs" - which is a compulsory requirement. This database is a record of who owns which domain name for when there are multiple claims on the same domain name, it also shows expiration, renewal and other important information used for legitimate purposes. It's not dissimilar to registering a trademark or a company, for example. The database is updated automatically when a domain is registered with any domain name provider.
This Whois database is managed and administrated at global domain organisations such as Nominet, ICANN and others. Try running a search for your domain name here: www.who.is
Since Whois information is a publicly accessible database, spammers can access it and mine it for data, even though this is forbidden. Spammers find ways to harvest and utilise the data, regardless of the penalties. In this case, you might receive offers for services and in some (rare) cases, computer viruses, spyware, or other malicious software has been disseminated. We would like to stress that these activities are all due to 3rd parties who are abusing the Whois database - these spammers are in no way affiliated or endorsed by Simplehost.sg - we have no control over these spammers - other than to blacklist them once we receive a user report of spam.
You cannot remove your details directly from the database, but in some circumstances, you can choose to hide certain details by purchasing additional domain privacy (where available). This can prevent people and companies from discovering your details through the database as your information will be masked by generic details.
Unfortunately, despite continuous efforts, Whois database security measures appear to be inefficient and open to abuse. In 2013 ICANN proposed to abolish WHOIS and replace it with a more modern and robust method that protects users' privacy and information. This work in ongoing and no date has yet been set to replace the current system.
