Hello Matthew,

> 
> 1/ A domain name was checked on the InterNIC Whois search

If you used that WHOIS service directly - it is unlikely that it was
compromised.

There have been reports of some WHOIS services operated by independent
companies, where snooping may be conducted on the searches carried out by
users.  This is the type of thing that should be part of a code of conduct
for the industry.

If you want to be really paranoid, your requests could be intercepted by any
ISPs or carriers between you and InterNIC.

> 
> 2/ It was free (as it was quite obscure)

The WHOIS data for ".com" is typically up to 12 hours out of date, and in
some cases longer if the WHOIS update had problems.

A registrar can perform a check command on the registry and that will
provide a definitive answer on whether the domain is available.

It is also possible that the domain you wanted has recently been deleted (ie
removed from the WHOIS).  Domain name speculators monitor when these domains
are about to be released from the registry and put in buy requests through
several registrars the instant the domain name is available.

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin
> 

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