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

Breaking Down HB 805 and How it Affects the Adult Industry

North Carolina House Bill 805 was enacted July 29, after the state legislature overrode Governor Josh Stein’s veto. The provisions that relate to the adult industry, imposing requirements for age verification, consent and content removal, are scheduled to become effective Dec. 1. Platforms have until then to update their policies and systems to comply with the new regulations.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Staying Compliant With Payment Standards Across Europe and Australia

So, you’ve got your eye on international growth. Smart move. No matter where adult-industry merchants operate, however, one requirement remains consistent: regulatory compliance. This isn’t just a legal checkbox — it’s a critical component of keeping payments flowing and business operations intact.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

How to Avoid Copyright Pitfalls When Using Music in Adult Content

When creating an adult video, bringing your vision to life often means assembling just the right ingredients — including the right music. However, adding music to adult content can raise complex legal and ethical issues.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

New Visa Rules Adult Merchants Need to Know

In December 2024, I shared an update on the upcoming rollout of Visa’s Acquirer Monitoring Program, also known as VAMP. The final version went into effect in June, and enforcement will begin in October. With just a month to go, now is the time to review what’s changing and how to stay compliant.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

WIA Profile: Lainie Speiser

With her fiery red hair and a laugh that practically hugs you, Lainie Speiser is impossible to miss. Having repped some of adult’s biggest stars during her 30-plus years in the business, the veteran publicist is also a treasure trove of tales dating back to the days when print was king and social media not even a glimmer in the industry’s eye.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Fighting Back Against AI-Fueled Fake Takedown Notices

The digital landscape is increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence, and while AI offers immense potential, it’s also being weaponized. One disturbing trend that directly impacts adult businesses is AI-powered “DMCA takedown services” generating a flood of fraudulent Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notices.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Building Seamless Checkout Flows for High-Risk Merchants

For high-risk merchants such as adult businesses, crypto payments are no longer just a backup plan — they’re fast becoming a first choice. More and more businesses are embracing Bitcoin and other digital currencies for consumer transactions.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

What the New SCOTUS Ruling Means for AV Laws and Free Speech

On June 27, 2025, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, upholding Texas’ age verification law in the face of a constitutional challenge and setting a new precedent that bolsters similar laws around the country.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

What You Need to Know Before Relocating Your Adult Business Abroad

Over the last several months, a noticeable trend has emerged: several of our U.S.-based merchants have decided to “pick up shop” and relocate to European countries. On the surface, this sounds idyllic. I imagine some of my favorite clients sipping coffee or wine at sidewalk cafés, embracing a slower pace of life.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

WIA Profile: Salima

When Salima first entered the adult space in her mid-20s, becoming a power player wasn’t even on her radar. She was simply looking to learn. Over the years, however, her instinct for strategy, trust in her teams and commitment to creator-first innovation led her from the trade show floor to the executive suite.

Women in Adult ·
Show More