WHOIS
Lookup an IP or domain. Uses IANA referral first, then registry WHOIS.
### IANA response (whois.iana.org) % IANA WHOIS server % for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org % This query returned 1 object refer: whois.afrinic.net inetnum: 196.0.0.0 - 196.255.255.255 organisation: Administered by AFRINIC status: LEGACY whois: whois.afrinic.net changed: 1993-05 source: IANA ### Registry response (whois.afrinic.net) % This is the AfriNIC Whois server. % The AFRINIC whois database is subject to the following terms of Use. See https://afrinic.net/whois/terms % Note: this output has been filtered. % To receive output for a database update, use the "-B" flag. % Information related to '196.216.134.0 - 196.216.134.255' % No abuse contact registered for 196.216.134.0 - 196.216.134.255 inetnum: 196.216.134.0 - 196.216.134.255 netname: Herotel descr: Herotel country: ZA org: ORG-HP1-AFRINIC admin-c: KH25-AFRINIC admin-c: RB29-AFRINIC admin-c: CW15-AFRINIC admin-c: JM97-AFRINIC tech-c: KH25-AFRINIC tech-c: RB29-AFRINIC tech-c: CW15-AFRINIC tech-c: JM97-AFRINIC tech-c: DH11-Afrinic status: ASSIGNED PA remarks: Herotel mnt-by: HP1-MNT mnt-lower: HP1-MNT mnt-domains: HP1-MNT source: AFRINIC # Filtered parent: 196.216.132.0 - 196.216.135.255 organisation: ORG-HP1-AFRINIC org-name: HERO TELECOMS (PTY) LTD org-type: LIR country: ZA address: 98 Dorp Street address: Stellenbosch address: Capetown (7600) phone: tel:+27-82-464-0965 phone: tel:+27-83-626-3546 phone: tel:+27-21-300-0142 phone: tel:+27-21-300-0499 admin-c: JM97-AFRINIC admin-c: KH25-AFRINIC tech-c: JM97-AFRINIC tech-c: KH25-AFRINIC tech-c: DH11-Afrinic mnt-ref: AFRINIC-HM-MNT mnt-ref: HP1-MNT mnt-by: AFRINIC-HM-MNT source: AFRINIC # Filtered person: Corne Wessels nic-hdl: CW15-AFRINIC address: 8 Bird Street address: Stellenbosch 7600 address: South Africa phone: tel:+27-72-905-2703 mnt-by: GENERATED-B3O8LAH76V7AJYYAVZCJMKYYLJCIS83S-MNT source: AFRINIC # Filtered person: Derrick Harrison nic-hdl: DH11-AFRINIC address: 98 Dorp St address: Stellenbosch address: 7600 address: Cape Town 7600 address: South Africa phone: tel:+27-21-300-0142 phone: tel:+27-21-300-0499 mnt-by: Fusion-MNT mnt-by: HP1-MNT source: AFRINIC # Filtered person: Justin Marais nic-hdl: JM97-AFRINIC address: HeroTel address: 98 Dorp St address: Stellenbosch Central address: Stellenbosch 7600 address: South Africa phone: tel:+27-21-300-0142 mnt-by: GENERATED-ZIH1N4Z5QZLAQD7ULJUJP60JHS438KHQ-MNT source: AFRINIC # Filtered person: Kyle Huygen address: 40 Bird St address: Stellenbosch Central (7600) address: South Africa phone: tel:+27-21-300-0142 nic-hdl: KH25-AFRINIC source: AFRINIC # Filtered mnt-by: GENERATED-I9YTUZCJ9E8VOPHHENFSZX1T8Z05KHTA-MNT person: Ross Barnes address: 40 Bird St, address: Stellenbosch 7600, address: South Africa phone: tel:+27-21-300-0499 nic-hdl: RB29-AFRINIC source: AFRINIC # Filtered mnt-by: GENERATED-R7DEKBFXLS3JSTMYMWWEVSZQ5LQDXV8T-MNT % Information related to '196.216.134.0/24AS327781' route: 196.216.134.0/24 descr: Herotel origin: AS327781 mnt-by: HP1-MNT source: AFRINIC # Filtered % Information related to '196.216.134.0/24AS328471' route: 196.216.134.0/24 descr: Herotel origin: AS328471 mnt-by: HP1-MNT source: AFRINIC # Filtered
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WHOIS?
WHOIS is a protocol that queries databases to find the registered owner of a domain name or IP address. It reveals the registrar, registration dates, nameservers, and contact information associated with a domain or IP block.
Is WHOIS data always accurate?
Not always. Many domain registrars offer WHOIS privacy protection that replaces the registrant's personal details with proxy information. IP WHOIS data from Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) is generally more reliable than domain WHOIS data.
Can I use WHOIS to find who owns an IP address?
Yes. Enter any IP address into the WHOIS tool to find the organization that owns the IP block, the Regional Internet Registry (ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, etc.) that allocated it, and the network range it belongs to.
What is the difference between domain WHOIS and IP WHOIS?
Domain WHOIS shows registration details like the registrar, creation date, expiry date, and nameservers. IP WHOIS shows the network allocation, the organization that owns the IP block, and the abuse contact for reporting issues.
Why does WHOIS show privacy protection instead of real details?
Domain registrars offer WHOIS privacy services to protect registrants from spam, identity theft, and unwanted contact. GDPR regulations in Europe also require redaction of personal data from WHOIS records.
How often is WHOIS data updated?
WHOIS data is updated by the registrar or registry whenever changes are made to a domain or IP registration. Our tool queries the authoritative WHOIS server in real-time, with results cached for 7 days to reduce server load.
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