In the digital age, where cyber threats and malicious activities are rampant, safeguarding online platforms and users from harmful content and potential security breaches is of paramount importance. One of the crucial measures in this regard is the implementation of domain/IP blacklist checks. This article aims to delve into the concept of domain/IP blacklist, its significance, and its integration within the settings of URLscore.ai.

What is Domain/IP Blacklist?

Domain Blacklist

A domain blacklist is a catalog of web domains that are flagged for engaging in suspicious, malicious, or fraudulent activities. These activities can range from hosting phishing pages, distributing malware, conducting spam campaigns, to being involved in other illicit online behaviors. Domains are typically added to blacklists by security organizations, internet service providers, or cybersecurity experts after thorough analysis and monitoring.

IP Blacklist

Similarly, an IP blacklist comprises a record of IP addresses that have been identified as sources of malicious activities. This can include servers or devices involved in distributing malware, launching cyber attacks, or participating in illegal online activities. IP blacklists serve as a crucial tool for network administrators and cybersecurity professionals to block or monitor potentially harmful traffic.

The Importance of Domain/IP Blacklist Checks

Safeguarding Users and Systems

The primary purpose of domain/IP blacklist checks is to protect users and systems from accessing or being exposed to harmful content or malicious entities. By cross-referencing URLs, domains, and IP addresses with blacklists, online platforms can proactively prevent users from interacting with dangerous websites or being targeted by cyber threats.

Mitigating Security Risks

Integrating domain/IP blacklist checks within security settings helps in mitigating security risks. By identifying and blocking known malicious entities, organizations can significantly reduce the likelihood of falling victim to cyber attacks, data breaches, or other security incidents.

Upholding Trust and Reputation

For businesses and online platforms, maintaining a trustworthy and reputable digital presence is essential. By implementing robust domain/IP blacklist checks, organizations demonstrate their commitment to user safety and security, which in turn fosters trust among their user base and stakeholders.

Domain/IP Blacklist in URLscore.ai

We use the following blacklist checks in URLSCORE:

• Google Web Risk Database Listing Check: This check determines if Google’s Web Risk service has flagged the domain as dangerous or potentially harmful.
• Phishing Database Inclusion Check: This check verifies whether the domain is listed in any databases that track known phishing websites. We currently check PhishTank, PhishHunt and OpenPhish databases. Please note that the databases are updates only every 3 hours.
• Anchor Tag and Domain Consistency Assessment: This check examines if the URLs within anchor tags (links) on the website that are different from the website’s domain are listed in any blacklist or phishing database.
• URLHAUS Malware Domain List Check: This check identifies if the domain is listed in the URLHAUS database, which is a resource known for tracking malicious websites.

We combine those checks with tranco lists to reduce false positives. The Tranco list is a research-focused effort that compiles and maintains a list of the most popular websites on the internet, intended to provide a robust and reliable dataset for internet research, particularly in areas related to security and domain analysis.