Beginner Website Investigation

A Short Beginners Guide to Researching, Investigating, and Evaluating the Safety of a Website using OSINT

1. Define Your Objectives and Safety Criteria: 

Clearly outline your investigation objectives and safety criteria. Determine what information you're seeking and what factors you'll use to assess the website's safety.

2. Gather Basic Information: 

Collect the website's URL, domain name, and any relevant contextual details.

3. Online Tools for Preliminary Safety Assessment:

 Before proceeding with a deeper investigation, use the following tools to assess the website's safety:

• Google Safe Browsing: Check for potential security issues or malicious content flagged by Google.

• VirusTotal: Scan the website's URL for malware using multiple antivirus engines.

• URL Expander/Shortener Decoders: Expand shortened URLs to see the full destination URL.

• WOT (Web of Trust): Look for user reviews and ratings indicating trustworthiness.

4. Leverage SimilarWeb for Website Analysis: 

SimilarWeb provides insights into a website's traffic, audience, engagement, and more. Use it to:

• Analyze Traffic Sources: Understand where the website's traffic is coming from, including search engines, social media, referrals, and direct visits.

• Explore Audience Demographics: Discover the website's audience age, gender, location, interests, and browsing devices.

• Check Engagement Metrics: Evaluate metrics such as pageviews, bounce rate, and average visit duration.

• Assess Referral Sites: Identify which websites refer traffic to the target site and assess their credibility.

• Review Top Keywords: Learn about the keywords driving organic search traffic to the website.

5. Analyze SSL/TLS Certificate: 

Check if the website has a valid SSL/TLS certificate, ensuring a secure connection.

6. Review Privacy Policy and Terms of Use:

 Look for comprehensive and transparent privacy policies and terms of use.

7. Examine Domain Reputation: 

Use tools to check the website's domain reputation for any history of malicious behavior.

8. Verify Contact Information: 

Confirm the legitimacy of the website's contact information, such as a physical address and phone number.

9. Review Online Reviews and Feedback:

 Search for user reviews and feedback to gauge the website's credibility and user experiences.

10. Analyze Social Media Presence: 

Investigate the website's social media profiles and their activity to assess legitimacy.

11. Utilize Browser Extensions:

 Install browser extensions that provide real-time safety assessments when visiting websites.

12. Cross-Reference Information: 

Combine findings from multiple sources to build a comprehensive view of the website's safety and reputation.

13. Apply Common Sense and Best Practices: 

Trust your instincts and adhere to safe online practices, such as not sharing personal information unnecessarily.

14. Educate Yourself Continuously: 

Stay informed about emerging threats and online safety practices to enhance your investigative skills.

15. Respect Legal and Ethical Boundaries: 

Ensure your investigation remains within legal and ethical limits and respects the privacy of individuals and organizations.

Remember that the depth of your investigation can vary based on your objectives. Regularly update your tools and knowledge to stay effective in assessing website safety.