Everything you wanted to know about the whois database

A Whois database is a virtual compendium of contact and registration details for those web resources that are registered with ARIN. This complete database contains many critical pieces of information like IP addresses, Autonomous numbers (AS Numbers), the people who are associated with these details, and their Points of Contact (POC).

A Whois database is a wonderful repository of useful information that provides you many bits of very sensitive details. However, whois databases will never provide you anything that is related to domains, nor will it give out sensitive information that is related to governmental websites and sensitive military web sites.

If you wish to search for a particular resource over the internet, you can log on to the 'who is' database website and create a line of query for the desired information. The more the specific request, better and more specific will be the search results. To search for details on an individual's name, you may wish to enter the last name, or to further refine the available results, you can use the last name and first name that is separated by a comma. For example: Lever, John. It is also possible to check out information, by using other methods like:

• Query-by-record-type
• Query-by-attribute
• Wildcard Search

The biggest advantage of using "whois databases", is gaining an immediate access to critical set of information like the IP addresses and the contact details. It is also possible to look out for the authenticity and credibility of the web site by checking out for additional details like web site's owner's address and his/her contact details. Whois databases may also help assist crime investigators in finding out critical and secret information about criminal offenders, terrorists and hackers.