In today's digital landscape, having your own website is more important than ever for true digital independence. Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme explain how to register domain names and set up web hosting with minimal personal information and maximum privacy. They cover Bitcoin-accepting registrars, anonymous VPS providers, and how the domain name system really works. Plus, they discuss a controversial Bitcoin update proposal that highlights why running your own node matters.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/anonymous-website-hosting-and-domains

00:00 Why Own Websites Beat Social Media Platforms 

00:35 Introduction and ATL BitLab Sponsorship 

01:55 Welcome and Contact Information 

02:26 News: Bitcoin Core Pull Request to Remove OP_Return Limits 

07:29 Why This PR Highlights the Importance of Running Your Own Node 

11:22 Main Topic: Private Domain Names and Hosting 

12:35 Minimizing Personal Information When Registering Domains 

13:29 NameCheap: Domain Registration with Bitcoin 

15:57 Using Fake Information and Domain Privacy Guard 

17:15 Domain Takedown Threat Model 

20:18 DNSSEC for Enhanced Security 

21:21 PorkBun: Another Private Domain Registrar 

21:54 Private Hosting Options Introduction 

22:54 Hostinger VPS Services 

24:11 1984 Hosting in Iceland 

24:46 Flokinet in Iceland 

25:17 Why Personal Websites Matter in the Social Media Age 

29:46 Websites vs. Censorship-prone Social Media Platforms 

31:36 Avoiding Services Like LinkTree 

35:01 Technical Side Discussion: How Domain Names Work 

35:30 How ICANN, Registries, and Registrars Interoperate 

40:14 How Authorities Can Take Down Domain Names 

42:33 Trade-offs with Different TLDs (.com vs alternatives) 

47:56 Boost Segment and Listener Appreciation