Provide current and historical ownership information on domains / IPs. Identify all connections between domains, registrants, registrars, and DNS servers.
Get detailed context on an IP address, including its user’s geolocation, time zone, connected domains, connection type, IP range, ASN, and other network ownership details.
Get access to a web-based enterprise-grade solution to search and monitor domain registrations and ownership details for branded terms, fuzzy matches, registrants of interest, and more.
It’s almost the end of an era in advertising. Google has started phasing out third-party cookies, beginning with 1% of Chrome users in January 2024. It plans to do the same for all users by the second half of the year through the Privacy Sandbox initiative.
To recall, Google’s Privacy Sandbox is a set of proposals for creating new standards for online privacy. The core idea is to develop methods for websites and advertisers to access user information for things like advertising and content recommendations without compromising user privacy. Among its key goals? Phasing out third-party cookies.
Do you ever wonder why many organizations block employee access to not-safe-for-work (NSFW) websites?
Content filtering, the process of blocking access to NSFW websites, has long been believed to be just about improving employee productivity. And that’s not surprising since a survey indicated that 58% of employees spend at least four hours a week or 26 workdays a year on websites unrelated to their job.
We are excited to introduce Website Categorization API V3, the latest addition to our Website Categorization product line. This innovative release enables more accurate website classification with its enhanced website categorization model and additional output data points.
Specific improvements to this version of Website Categorization API include:
A fundamental requirement of website categorization is accurately classifying websites into relevant categories. But that can be challenging, as the task typically requires targeted web expertise and a multitude of system resources. Therefore, to improve their web categorizing capabilities, large companies and solution providers often need the help of a reliable third-party API.
In this post, we listed the essential considerations when evaluating potential website categorization API providers.
WhoisXML API offers, via API calls, a lot of information on domains or IP addresses that is very useful for a number of applications, including cybersecurity investigations, domain appraisal or system administration. Imagine that one is given a long list of domain names, and one is interested in each domain's details, e.g., WHOIS or website categories, etc. In each API call, a single domain name is sent, and its data is returned in JSON format. (Some of the APIs of WhoisXML API offer bulk lookups, too, but we will not deal with this possibility here.) To get an overview of the data, analysts often prefer to have everything in a single csv file; one line for each domain. This can be opened by popular office spreadsheets like Excel or LibreOffice Calc, or sent to other kinds of processing.
WhoisXML API’s website categorization products have been helping organizations determine the authenticity and reliability of sites by scanning the meta tags and content of more than 152 million websites. The machine learning (ML)-driven process allows organizations to detect suspicious domains, align their site categories with their marketing messages, and target the right leads, to name a few.
Today, the tools have been made more massive by adopting the classifications used by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB). IAB’s content classification taxonomy has become a standard in the industry, along with other solutions that aim to promote brand safety, ad fraud prevention, and consumer privacy.
Great attention has been directed lately towards website categorization; a cybersecurity practice which has been around for a while, but it wasn’t until recent times that it started to be increasingly used in marketing and business.
Website categorization is, in essence, the act of putting websites related by their content and function into similar categories. With that in mind, sites like Amazon and Ebay are grouped as Ecommerce sites; CNN, BBC and the likes are classified as news sites; Twitter and Facebook are tagged as social media sites, while Reddit and Quora are Forums (Message Boards) and so on.
However, what some people might not realize is that website categorization is a totally different ball game from Search Engine Optimization and Alexa rankings. Each is different and should be approached in that light - and not be confused.
One of the most important moments of building your online presence is creating the name of your domain. In the digital sphere, the domain is your address and your identity. Before you settle for a domain, however, you have to jump through a few hoops.
You may think of a perfect name only to discover that it’s already taken or too similar to another brand’s domain. You may find that the perfect domain name is available but you cannot afford it. So how do you find the middle ground between originality, availability and affordability? More importantly, how do you avoid winding up with a domain name you may regret? With a little bit of brainstorming and research. We’ll show you how.
What are the benefits of web filtering for businesses?
Content filtering is the practice of restricting access to a broad category of content or specific websites based
on their purpose. There are many reasons why companies use content filtering - from boosting cybersecurity to
dealing with workplace productivity.
One of the most important prerequisites to efficient content filtering is being able to properly classify domains
and websites that are malicious or inappropriate. This is not an easy task, so you have to be rigorous when
deciding which tool to use for content filtering.
In this article, we’ll talk about all the benefits of content filtering and the multifaceted tools you need for
this.
How to Check & Improve the Reputation of Your Domain
It has never been easier to build a website and online business. You can create a site from scratch and start
promoting and selling your product in a matter of hours. Amazing as this is, such convenience also has a dark
side. Cyber-criminals can do that just as easily. They can infect your website with malware or mimic its
appearance to lure your unsuspecting customers. Running a website became a technically challenging matter: web
server software, content management systems and other digital tools all have their vulnerabilities. There are
malicious requests impinging at every website in every minute looking for the possibility of taking control over
it. One successful attack could destroy your business completely.
However, search engines and email providers are keeping up, constantly updating the algorithms that assess all
the participants in the digital sphere. When we’re talking about this assessment, we’re talking about domain
reputation.
When it comes to domain reputation, there is good news and bad news. Let’s start with the bad: your website is
also being assessed. And just because you are not a cybercriminal, it doesn’t mean that your website cannot
receive a bad reputation score: you may easily run into some trouble e.g. because of some innocent
misconfiguration or a security hole accidentally left open. Now, the good news. It is possible to measure and
improve the reputation of your domain.
All it takes is some knowledge, solid API tools like Domain Reputation and Website Categorization, and a little
bit of patience. So, let’s begin!
What is email verification and why is it important?
Email verification is the process of confirming that the email address is valid and deliverable. This is
important for plenty of business activities: email marketing, cold outreach and professional correspondence. If
you want to achieve your business goals, you have to make sure your messages are reaching their recipients.
There are dozens of ways to check whether the email addresses on your list are valid. The simplicity of these
methods and degrees of their reliability vary greatly.
We will explain each of them in greater detail and yes - we will show you the simplest, most reliable solution
for email verification. Before that, we’ll discuss the basics of good email practices, both in business
correspondence and email marketing.
Why Your Business Needs Website Categorization Right Now
Website categorization is a term that may not seem too glamorous or super powerful at first glance. Classifying
websites based on content and objective doesn’t strike fear or awe, yet if you’re a marketer or business owner,
we dare you to stick around and learn more about this interesting method of scanning your online surroundings.
We guarantee that, by the end of this story, you’ll change your mind about website categorization.
It is one of the most versatile and powerful tools you can acquire on your journey towards business success.
Website categorization allows you to protect your website, company, and brand, find your target audience, keep
tabs on your marketing strategy, and much, much more.
4 Disadvantages of Bad Publicity (and How to Deal with Them)
“There is no such thing as bad publicity.” We’ve all heard this common PR adage. While bad publicity may work wonders
for pop stars, for business owners it is a serious liability. The disadvantages of bad publicity are numerous and
include plummets in sales, decreased customer retention, difficulties in talent acquisition, as well as a bad brand
image.
Thanks to the rise of social media, bad publicity is much easier to produce and make go viral. It no longer comes
only from mass media - any bad review of your product or service could be considered bad publicity. Here’s how
unchecked bad buzz can harm your business and a few tips on how to deal with it.
Brand consistency is a practice of presenting brand messages in a way that is fully synchronized with your
brand’s strategy, mission, and values.
Maintaining brand consistency is easier said than done, especially in the digital environment. So how do you make
sure that your brand is presented in the best possible light, consistent with your identity and goals?
How to Block Inappropriate Websites in a Workplace
Accessing explicit or illegal content from the office network can be a serious liability for your company.
Blocking inappropriate websites at a workplace protects your network from malware, legal issues, and low
employee productivity.
Monitoring workplace Internet activity manually could be a time-consuming task. Fortunately, the blocking of
inappropriate websites can be automated. We’ll show you how to block inappropriate websites by using five tricks
with varying degrees of reliability.
How to Improve Your Website's SEO Using Cyber Intelligence
If you’re a newcomer, by now you’re probably well-acquainted with the fact that a great website or product means
nothing if nobody’s going to see it. If you want to get in front of your prospective customers, you have to know
two things: who they are and how to find them.
There are two ways to reach your audience via search engines: organically, through a wise SEO strategy, and using
paid ads.
While paying for the ads may be the easiest way, it is not a sustainable long-term solution. That is why
improving your website’s SEO content is the best way to grow your online presence and business.
In this article, we’ll talk about two core strategies and unique cyber intelligence API tools you can use to
boost your SEO. As the world of digital marketing is changing due to new privacy regulations, the way websites
gather data on its users has to evolve. Cyber intelligence is a revolutionary way to adjust to these changes and
get ahead of your competitors. Want to find out more? Keep on reading!
Targeting is the core of digital marketing wisdom. Instead of shouting into the void in hope of
hearing someone respond, you are directing your message to very specific groups, the ones that are
most likely to answer. Here’s the Catch 22 of digital marketing - how do you know which groups those
are and where to find them? Read on to find out!
Since tracking potential customer’s behavior is becoming increasingly difficult
due to privacy regulations, marketers have to be innovative in their approach to gathering valuable
data. Welcome to contextual targeting – being at the right place at the right time, without the
hassle of cookies and tracking. Leave it to the others!
Web filtering is the practice of limiting access to certain websites based on their content.
Businesses use web filtering to increase workplace productivity and protect their network
security.
Larger companies are more likely to monitor their employees’ internet activity. Around 96% of large
businesses block access to at least one website. Yet the practice of web filtering has become
popular among smaller companies too. Up to 92% of mid-size and small businesses supervise their
employees' web access.
Still wondering whether you should start filtering web content? The benefits of web filtering for
businesses are plenty. However, using unsophisticated filtering services can diminish these positive
effects.
In this article, we will focus on helping your business get the most out of web filtering.
The Internet is an ever-growing ocean of knowledge, opportunities, and conveniences. At the same
time, immense swaths of that ocean are filled with fake websites from all registered domains, scams, and increasingly efficient
and sophisticated ways to steal the 21st century’s greatest treasure - personal information.
In this guide, we will show you 10 tricks that can help you verify website
authenticity. Admittedly, the simple tricks cannot ensure 100% safe browsing experience. This is why
this article also included sophisticated verification measures used by the most reputable
cybersecurity tools designed for in-depth, sophisticated analysis of fraudulent websites.
Want to Find & Contact Websites Based On Specific Categories & Location?
Sometime back we introduced 2 product solutions to help provide clearly defined website Intel in the form of Website
Categorization API & Website Contacts API.
Both the APIs combine the application of machine learning with the versatility of rules defined by experts and
deploy artificial intelligence to obtain precise results. This enables our users to conduct their research from
a single source instead of manually examining multiple sources.
Malware Detection and Prevention Using Website Categorization API!
Cybercrime has taken on the mantle of being the biggest security threat to global information systems
of the 21st century. With an increasing number of utilities, services and businesses connecting
themselves to online platforms, the number of systems that are potentially under threat of becoming
cybercrime targets is increasing by the day. Recent spates of cyber attacks such as the WannaCry and
NotPetya have shown how easily important business processes and public utility systems can fall prey
to such nefarious acts of digital felony. According to the latest estimates by thebestvpn.com,
ransomware alone is slated to cost businesses to the tune of $11.5 billion in 2019. Furthermore, the
costs of damage caused by cybercrime cannot be measured in terms of money alone. Cybercrime has far
reaching consequences that go beyond mere monetary considerations. The loss of private data, breach
of personal and privileged information as well as leak of sensitive records may snowball into global
security risks. As a result, it becomes a matter of prime importance that such heinous attacks are
nipped in the bud.
Using Website Contacts and Categorization Tools for More Effective Digital Rights Management
Digital rights management (DRM) is a systematic approach to copyright protection for all kinds of digital media.
It prevents unauthorized redistribution of digital media and stops consumers from copying the content they
purchase.
DRM products were developed in response to a rapid rise in online piracy of commercially marketed materials aided
by the widespread use of peer-to-peer (P2P) file exchange applications, more widely known as torrent
clients.
DRM is typically implemented by embedding code in materials to prevent users from copying them. At times, it
limits the amount of time when content can be accessed or the number of devices the media can be consumed on.
Despite its widespread use, however, online piracy still runs rampant.
So, what can digital media producers do to protect their intellectual property from online pirates? Would
limiting access to their distribution platforms help? How do they make sure that they’re not keeping legitimate
consumers out along with the digital pirates? These are just some of the questions that this post answers.
How DNS Filtering and Website Categorization Lists Can Empower In-House Cybersecurity Teams
The IT security climate these days is pretty unpredictable. A study by the University of Maryland states that a
security incident occurs every 39 seconds. Companies around the world are, in fact, increasingly suffering from
Web-based attacks, not to mention the fact that the average cost of a data breach has skyrocketed.
The good news is that there is a wide range of measures that in-house cybersecurity professionals can employ
against threats. One effective solution is Domain Name System (DNS) filtering.
Depending on how it is implemented, DNS filtering can provide advanced network setting controls to enhance online
safety. It can protect organizations from threats like botnet, phishing, and other malware-instigated attacks.
The great thing about it is that a website categorization database can supplement it. Such a database is thus an
excellent resource for managed security service providers (MSSPs) and the like.
Web Page Categorization: How Next-Generation Technologies Can Benefit MSSPs
The demand for managed security services has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past years.
The reason for this trend is that organizations of all sizes need to monitor their IT systems around
the clock and manage incidents and breaches in real time. Yet, they may not have the means necessary
to do that on their own as it requires significant investment in infrastructure and human
resources.
Adding to that, traditional security measures have a hard time catching up with today’s more advanced
threats. The fast-paced and increasingly connected environments require next-generation technologies
and techniques, which enable MSSPs to protect their clients’ complex environments.
In this post, we’ll discuss what these next-generation capabilities are, why they are essential,
and how web page categorization can improve them.
Check a Website’s Reputation with Website Categorization API and Other Tools
In an era riddled with highly skilled threat actors and sophisticated attack methods, determining
whether you can safely access a website or not is critical. After all, the only certain way of
preventing a breach is to keep well away from every potential threat source online, including
anywhere inappropriate you may land on the Web.
With that purpose in mind, this long-form article presents four case studies on how Website Categorization API, in
conjunction with other domain and IP data feeds and APIs, can help organizations avoid the pitfalls that come with
visiting harmful web pages.
How a Website Categorization Database Can Contribute to Fraud Monitoring
Fraud detection and prevention solutions are on the rise, and so are expectations from vendors. Many
enterprises users are looking for providers that can offer holistic products and augmented
capabilities. Let’s dive into that point and talk about how a Website Categorization Database can
prove useful as a means for data enrichment.
Know What’s Really Behind A Website With Website Categorization API!
Whois API, LLC is constantly on a quest to provide accurate & reliable information
about domain activities on the web. Our solid foundation, constant innovations & unparalleled
databases of Domain, Whois, DNS, IP, OSINT and Threat Intelligence helps professionals from across
industries to get the Intel they need. But with over a billion websites, the internet is already
quite massive and is constantly growing. With the plethora of websites & their various data-sets,
analyzing them can be cumbersome & time-consuming especially in cases of filtering online traffic or
finding potentially dangerous websites. In such cases sometimes just knowing ‘what the website is
about?’ or ‘the website category’ can help you decide your further course of action.