At BforeAI we look at multiple different indicators to validate the maliciousness of a domain.
A comprehensive approach
Our approach involves analyzing various indicators to gain a deeper understanding of the specific attack. It is important to note that not all indicators need to be present for us to classify a domain as malicious; often, a few key indicators are sufficient. We do this to also get a better understanding of the target, the threat actor and their modus operandi.
Determining malicious
Here are the main indicators we look into to determine maliciousness:
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Domain Name Similarity: This indicator evaluates whether the domain name is similar to the customers legitimate domain name. Malicious actors often create domains with names that mimic the trusted brand to deceive users into visiting their fraudulent sites. A high degree of similarity is a suspicious indicator.
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Days Since Registered: The length of time a domain has been registered can be indicative of its trustworthiness. Newly registered domains, especially those registered for a short duration, are more likely to be associated with malicious activities as they may be set up temporarily for nefarious purposes.
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Registrant Country: The geographic location of the domain's registrant can be a significant factor. Some countries are known for hosting a higher proportion of malicious domains due to lax regulations or a large number of cybercriminals operating from those regions.
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MX Record: The Mail Exchanger (MX) record indicates whether the domain is configured to handle email traffic. Malicious domains may use unusual or suspicious MX records in their attacks.
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Website Content: Analyzing the content of the website associated with the domain is essential. Malicious domains often host content such as phishing forms, malware downloads, or counterfeit webpages designed to steal user information. Suspicious or harmful content is a strong indicator of malicious intent.
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TLD (Top-Level Domain): Certain TLDs are more commonly associated with malicious domains than others. For instance, domains with obscure or rarely used TLDs may raise suspicions.
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SSL Certificate: The presence or absence of an SSL certificate can provide insights into a domain's legitimacy. Legitimate websites often use SSL certificates to encrypt data and provide secure connections. Malicious domains may lack SSL certificates, but some may use self-signed or invalid certificates, which can be red flags.
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IP Address: Analyzing the IP address associated with a domain can reveal additional information. Malicious domains may share IP addresses with other known malicious domains or be hosted on servers in countries associated with cybercrime.
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Registrar: Some domain registrars have a reputation for facilitating the registration of malicious domains, and domains associated with such registrars may be more likely to be malicious.
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Hosting Network: The hosting network used to host the domain's website can also provide insights. Some hosting providers have lenient policies regarding hosting malicious content, making their networks attractive to cybercriminals.