Dev Depot: urlQuery, Detects Potential Malware

A free online service for testing and analyzing URLs, urlQuery (www.urlquery.net) helps identify malicious and suspicious content on websites as a means of improving the safety and security of the Internet. It’s also a great tool for auditing your own websites. According to its publisher, while no current service or security solution can guarantee 100 percent detection of malicious content, urlQuery provides detailed information about the activities a web browser engages in when visiting a specific site, and then presents the results for further analysis; delivering a second opinion about the state of a site’s security.

“As with other sandbox technologies it can be detected, which can skew or make the results inaccurate,” states a urlQuery spokesperson. “Other issues might include browser incompatibilities with settings or configurations within the browser or sandbox.”

The limited scope of urlQuery uses a small set of features commonly employed by Intrusion Detection Systems, omitting several crucial areas when evaluating the overall effectiveness and performance of a site’s security systems.

It doesn’t get any easier than using urlQuery: just enter a profile URL in the input box and then click “go.” Optional advanced settings allow users to specify a User Agent and Referer plus Adobe Reader and Java versions, along with a VM Template, for those users needing more targeted testing.

Advanced users may also be interested in the urlQuery API, which offers the ability to submit URLs, query for a URL’s reputation and receive basic report information from public reports over JSON. A private API is provided to security companies, giving them full access to data such as URL feeds and other nonpublic information. Currently in closed beta testing, development of the API has taken longer than expected, due to the roll out of a new backend, which was required before any further extension was possible.

Daily updates to the signature sets help keep up with the latest threats, while certain subcategories of these signatures have been disabled, such as those governing policy and unrelated services (i.e. FTP, SMTP, etc.) plus protocols such as ICMP and SCADA, since they fall outside of the focus of the urlQuery service.

The limited scope of urlQuery uses a small set of features commonly employed by Intrusion Detection Systems, omitting several crucial areas when evaluating the overall effectiveness and performance of a site’s security systems. An internal detection engine has access to data gathered from within the browser which can be hard for other systems to reach or correctly determine; giving urlQuery a unique opportunity to alert on items that other system might miss.

In addition to the analysis it provides to your specified URL, the urlQuery.net website features an interesting statistics page, which reveals data such as the number of processed URLs vs. those that were flagged as being suspicious, as well as the relative incidences of Neutrino, Nice Pack, Private, ProPack, RedKit, Sakura, SofosFO, SPL, STFO Pack, Styx, Sweet Orange and unknown exploit kits that urlQuery has detected. Also listed are the Top 5 Alerts for the last 30 days, revealing the scope of malicious iframe injections, CookieBomb and other suspicious JavaScript code, plus Dynamic DNS and RedKit URL patterns that urlQuery identified, providing a guide to security staff.

If you’re responsible for protecting a site or analyzing others, then urlQuery should find a place in your toolbox. Try it and see the results for yourself.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business never quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Lexi Morin

Lexi Morin’s journey into the adult industry began with a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith. In 2011, fresh-faced and ambitious, she was scrolling through job ads on Craigslist when she stumbled upon a listing for an assistant makeup artist.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Still Rocking: The Hun Celebrates 30 Years in the Game

In the ever-changing landscape of adult entertainment, The Hun’s Yellow Pages stands out for its endurance. As one of the internet’s original fixtures, literally nearly as old as the web itself, The Hun has functioned as a living archive for online adult content, quietly maintaining its relevance with an interface that feels more nostalgic than flashy.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Digital Desires: AI's Emerging Role in Adult Entertainment

The adult industry has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to embracing new technology. From the early days of dial-up internet and grainy video clips to today’s polished social media platforms and streaming services, our industry has never been afraid to innovate. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) is shaking things up in ways that are exciting but also daunting.

Steve Lightspeed ·
opinion

More Than Money: Why Donating Time Matters for Nonprofits

The adult industry faces constant legal battles, societal stigma and workplace challenges. Fortunately, a number of nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to protect the rights and well-being of adult performers, producers and industry workers. When folks in the industry think about supporting these groups, donating money is naturally the first solution that comes to mind.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Consent Guardrails: How to Protect Your Content Platform

The adult industry takes a strong and definite stance against the creation or publication of nonconsensual materials. Adult industry creators, producers, processors, banks and hosts all share a vested interest in ensuring that the recording and publication of sexually explicit content is supported by informed consent.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

Payment Systems: Facilitator vs. Gateway Explained

Understanding and selecting the right payment platform can be confusing for anyone. Recently, Segpay launched its payment gateway. Since then, we’ve received numerous questions about the difference between a payment facilitator and a payment gateway. Most merchants want to know which type of platform best meets their business needs.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Reinventing Intimacy: A Look at AI's Implications for Adult Platforms

The adult industry has long revolved around delivering pleasure and entertainment, but now it’s moving into new territory: intimacy, connection and emotional fulfillment. And AI companions are at the forefront of that shift.

Daniel Keating ·
Show More