TL;DR
You can check if a domain name is trustworthy by looking at its age, registration details (WHOIS), reputation on blocklists, SSL certificate, and website content. Use online tools to help with these checks.
1. Check the Domain Age
A newer domain doesn’t automatically mean it’s bad, but older domains generally have more established reputations. You can use a WHOIS lookup tool (see section 2) as many will show creation date.
2. Perform a WHOIS Lookup
WHOIS provides registration information about the domain name owner, registrar, and dates of registration/expiration. Suspiciously hidden or incomplete details can be a red flag.
- Tools: DomainTools WHOIS, ICANN WHOIS Lookup
- What to look for: Check the registration date. Look for privacy protection (often legitimate), but be wary if *all* details are hidden. Note the registrar – some are more reputable than others.
3. Check Blocklists
Blocklists contain domains known to host malware, phishing sites, or spam. If a domain appears on multiple blocklists, it’s a strong indicator of trouble.
- Tools: MXToolbox Blacklist Check, VirusTotal
- How to use: Enter the domain name and check if it’s listed on any major blocklists (e.g., Spamhaus, SURBL).
4. Verify SSL Certificate
A valid SSL certificate (HTTPS) encrypts communication between your browser and the website. It doesn’t guarantee trustworthiness but is essential for secure websites.
- How to check: Look for a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar. Click it to view certificate details.
- What to look for: Ensure the certificate is valid (not expired) and issued to the correct domain name. A missing or invalid certificate is a major warning sign.
5. Scan with VirusTotal
VirusTotal analyzes websites using multiple antivirus engines and website reputation services.
- Tool: VirusTotal
- How to use: Enter the domain name or URL and let it scan. Review the results for any detected threats or warnings.
6. Examine Website Content
Look for signs of poor quality, misleading information, or attempts to collect personal data without a clear privacy policy.
- What to look for: Grammatical errors, broken links, unrealistic offers, requests for sensitive information (passwords, credit card details) on non-HTTPS pages.
7. Use Website Reputation Tools
These tools combine various data points to provide an overall trust score.
- Tools: Google Safe Browsing, ScamAdviser
8. Check the Domain’s DNS Records
DNS records can reveal information about where a domain is hosted and how it’s configured. Unusual or inconsistent records might indicate malicious activity.
- Tool: MXToolbox DNS Lookup
- What to look for: Check the A record (points to the server’s IP address). Look for inconsistencies or records pointing to suspicious locations. You can also check MX records for email servers.