Data Accuracy
One of ARIN’s core responsibilities is to maintain a registry of unique Internet number resources (IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers) in the ARIN region and provide accurate registration information about these resources, including their associated organization and contact information.
An accurate registry is essential to the overall operability and stability of the Internet.
Learn More About Registry Data
The Importance of Accurate Registry Data
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ARIN's Data Accuracy Improvement Program
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Contact Validation and Management
Per ARIN policy (NRPM 3.6), all Points of Contact registered in ARIN’s Whois that are required to be validated by policy will receive an email asking them to validate that their Point of Contact registration information is still correct.
When you receive the Point of Contact validation email, please copy and paste the secure link into your browser to validate your contact. If you need to update your Point of Contact, please log in to ARIN Online to do so.
Each Point of Contact will have up to 60 days to respond to this email, either confirming that the information is still accurate or letting us know that changes need to be made.
Alternatively, you always have the option to go directly to your ARIN Online account and validate/update your contact from there. Once logged in, your Dashboard will display an alert that you need to validate your Point of Contact records. A list of unvalidated Points of Contact is also provided.
After 60 days, unresponsive Point of Contact records will be marked as invalid in the database and users with unvalidated contacts will only have limited access to Terms of Service and Point of Contact functionality within ARIN Online. You will need to validate or update your Point of Contact information in order to access all other functionality.
Why is Accurate Registry Data So Important?
You’re ensuring the operability and stability of the Internet.
ARIN’s Whois/RDAP services are an integral resource for the Internet community as it contains data regarding Internet number resource registrations, abuse contacts, routing, and other information.
You’re helping to prevent the hijacking of your resources.
ARIN has increasingly found that registration records that haven’t been updated have become targets of hijackers and other potential criminals. This can eventually lead to a registrant losing control of not only its resources, but also its Org ID and Point of Contact records.
You’re aiding the Internet community.
Network operators, anti-abuse operations, cybersecurity teams, network researchers, and more all rely on accurate registry data.
You’re assisting law enforcement agencies in obtaining information from the registry needed to accomplish their mission and keep the public safe.
Occasionally, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) use publicly available data in Whois in their investigations. Inaccurate records can potentially hinder an investigation. More information about ARIN and law enforcement agencies can be found on the Law Enforcement Agencies page. Validate