A while back, creating malicious software was sort of a hobby for programmers. It was hardly ever used to make money, but more of a way to show off what one can do with a computer.

The malware of today, however, has taken a veil of sophistication with hackers employing numerous means to spread their vile code. As things stand, malicious software has become a never-ending struggle for businesses to stay protected against clever hacking methods and continuously thwart the threat.

The good news is that defenders have likewise adapted to help businesses counteract malicious fabrications. Let’s learn about some of them below.

Technique 1: Checking Malware Databases

There’s no doubt that a proactive approach is required to distinguish websites containing risky content. One way of doing this is by accessing major malware databases with the help of a domain malware check API, letting you check if a domain has been flagged as dangerous. Well-known sources include:

PhishTank – Offering a community-based verification system, this provider specializes in identifying and monitoring harmful websites that are known to carry out phishing attacks.

Web of Trust (WOT) – The WOT classifies domains into several categories (i.e., positive, neutral, questionable, or negative reputations) based on user information that has been acquired from third-party providers.

Virus Total – This portal leverages various antivirus programs and scan engines as well as detects suspicious activity and content within domains which users can submit for verification.

Google Safe Browsing – This blacklist service takes into account numerous URLs every day and creates a list of all unsafe online assets that have been detected.

You can learn more about other known malware databases that can be covered by a domain malware check API in our post Domain Malware Check: 10 Sources of Threat Intelligence You Should Know About.

Technique 2: Looking into WHOIS Details

Malware threats can also be preemptively stopped thanks to a WHOIS database download service. This is especially true since many threat actors register new domains all the time to host and carry out their malware attacks. Insights that can be found here include a website’s recent registration and expiration dates, registrant name, and country of origin among others.

Aside from that, the data that can be obtained via WHOIS may be employed by investigators to associate malicious domains that are owned by the same registrant. Databases can be queried in real time as soon as new details come in regarding websites with harmful content.

Technique 3: Acquiring and Analyzing Threat Intelligence

Reliable information on malware threats is crucial to counteract the foul deeds of hackers. Without it, cybersecurity teams will be operating blind while their adversaries have all the visibility needed to penetrate a network’s defenses. Several threat intelligence tools can be obtained for that purpose, taking the form of:

Malware feeds – These channels keep track of developing trends that can be an indication of a new and upcoming malware attack, letting users tweak their cybersecurity measures and stay a step ahead.

SIEM – Standing for Security Information and Event Management, SIEM tools are used by many threat detection teams to monitor network traffic, allowing them to identify and react to incoming malware threats.

Threat intelligence platform – This software can provide actionable information and recommendations regarding suspicious domains that may contain malware by looking into various parameters such as security certificates on target domains and malware feeds, to name a few.

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Malicious software nowadays may seem like terrifying beasts that cannot be tamed. Yet, there are also various instruments that one can use as a domain malware check API and WHOIS data, giving users a fighting chance in fending off cyber threats.