Use Public Tools

There are many public tools and sites available to help you validate information that you find. Verify URLs, files, websites, and etc.

Below, I will list some of them. I will also give a visual presentation with these tools, separate from this document. I posted links down below, but verify if they are currently valid at the time of trying to use them. Remember – Go to the source!

• VirusTotal.com

  • This is a free service that analyzes files and URLs for malicious content. The tool also leverages many Security Vendor reports as well. For example, if you were to search a URL on VirusTotal, it will let you know if it aware if the URL is safe, potentially malicious, or malicious, along with green/red marks from each Security Vendor.

  • It is very easy to use this site for URLs or files.

• Sites to looks up Sites. You can look up domain information (or URL information) to see if they are trustworthy, or potentially ownership details, as well as technical details (i.e. various record information like DNS|MX Records|A records, and much more). Some of the more popular options below:

  • lookup.icann.org – lookup domain information

  • who.is

  • godaddy’s who.is database

  • transparencyreport.google.com/safebrowsing

  • sitelookup.mcafee.com (there are many Security Vendors who have these options. Find one you prefer