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Is aura-astronomy.org a Scam? Security Check Results - Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy

aura-astronomy.org Security Report Summary

aura-astronomy.org received a security score of 59 out of 100 in Guard's comprehensive security analysis, classified as "Elevated Risk". This report covers Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy's website security posture. Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy operates in the Other industry in United States.

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a well-established nonprofit organization that operates and builds world-class astronomical observatories for major US science agencies including the National Science Foundation and NASA. The organization plays a critical role in advancing astronomical research and education, serving a broad audience of scientists, educators, and the public. Their website reflects a professional and authoritative presence with comprehensive content about their centers, news, and resources. Technically, the site is built on WordPress with modern plugins and frameworks, offering good performance and mobile optimization. Security posture is solid with HTTPS and reCAPTCHA integration, though some security headers and cookie consent mechanisms could be improved. Overall, the site demonstrates high business credibility and trustworthiness, supported by clear contact information and affiliations with reputable institutions.

The security scan identified 34 findings across security headers, SSL/TLS, DNS health, email security, GDPR compliance, and NIS2 compliance analysis modules.

Technologies detected: WordPress 6.3.6, Yoast SEO plugin, Slider Revolution, jQuery, Bootstrap, Google Analytics, Google reCAPTCHA.

About this security scan

Guard performs automated security assessments of websites by analyzing SSL/TLS certificates, HTTP security headers, DNS configuration, email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), GDPR compliance indicators, NIS2 directive compliance, network exposure, and AI-powered business intelligence. Each report provides domain-specific findings, risk scores, and actionable recommendations.

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Is aura-astronomy.org Safe? Security Analysis for Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy

https://aura-astronomy.org

Check if aura-astronomy.org is a scam or legitimate. Free security scan and reviews.

OtherUnited Stateslarge
WordPress 6.3.6Yoast SEO pluginSlider RevolutionjQueryBootstrap+2 more
Analyzed 9/5/2025Completed 11:10:49 AM6mo ago
59
Security Score
MEDIUM RISK

10,000+

Domains scanned

500+

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Domainaura-astronomy.org
Access tierFull report or marketing add-on

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VisaMastercardApple PayGoogle Pay

Secure payments processed via EveryPay. Prices in EUR; Incl. 21% VAT.

SEQ SIA

Lastadijas 12 k-3, Riga, Latvia, LV-1050

Reg. No. 40203410806 • VAT LV40203410806

Support: guard@offseq.com+371 2256 5353

AI Summary

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a well-established nonprofit organization that operates and builds world-class astronomical observatories for major US science agencies including the National Science Foundation and NASA. The organization plays a critical role in advancing astronomical research and education, serving a broad audience of scientists, educators, and the public. Their website reflects a professional and authoritative presence with comprehensive content about their centers, news, and resources. Technically, the site is built on WordPress with modern plugins and frameworks, offering good performance and mobile optimization. Security posture is solid with HTTPS and reCAPTCHA integration, though some security headers and cookie consent mechanisms could be improved. Overall, the site demonstrates high business credibility and trustworthiness, supported by clear contact information and affiliations with reputable institutions.

Detected Technologies

WordPress 6.3.6Yoast SEO pluginSlider RevolutionjQueryBootstrapGoogle AnalyticsGoogle reCAPTCHA

11 urgent findings need attention

11 high

  • + 3 more findings in the full report below
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Security drift alerts

Risk score drops, new high-severity issues, and header hardening gaps

Compliance watch

GDPR / NIS2 posture changes with governance evidence snapshots

Infrastructure surface

Unexpected open services, SSL expiry, DNS & email authentication changes

Content & tracker intelligence

Marketing tech shifts, analytics drift, and AI recommendation updates

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Security Headers

8 findings

15/100

GDPR Compliance

4 findings

53/100

NIS2 Compliance

9 findings

2/100

Email Security

3 findings

85/100

🧠AI Business Intelligence

Technology stack, business insights, and market analysis powered by AI.

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

AURA holds a strong market position as a key operator of US astronomical research infrastructure, leveraging partnerships with NSF and NASA. Their business model focuses on nonprofit scientific service and education, with revenue likely derived from government funding and grants. The organization targets researchers, educators, and astronomy enthusiasts, providing scientific data, news, and educational resources. The website's content and structure support these goals effectively, with clear navigation and up-to-date news. The presence of a Spanish language partner site indicates regional outreach. The organization's large size and nonprofit status align with its mission-driven operations.

Extracted Contact Information

Marketing Intelligence Data

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

The website employs HTTPS and Google reCAPTCHA to secure user interactions and data submissions. However, explicit security headers such as Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, and X-Content-Type-Options are not evident, representing an area for enhancement. No vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data were detected in the HTML content. The absence of a published security policy or incident response information suggests room for improvement in transparency and preparedness. Overall, the security posture is good but could be strengthened by adopting additional best practices and publishing relevant policies.

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for Security Improvement

1

Implement comprehensive security headers including CSP, X-Frame-Options, and X-Content-Type-Options to enhance protection against common web attacks.

Observations

AI-powered comprehensive website and business analysis.

AI-Enhanced Website Analysis

Business Insights

Company:

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy

Description:

AURA operates and builds world-class astronomical observatories for the National Science Foundation and NASA and advances research in astronomy

Key Services:
Operation and building of astronomical observatoriesResearch advancement in astronomyEducation resourcesScience news and updates
Content Quality:

excellent

Branding:

consistent

Technical Stack

Technologies:
WordPress 6.3.6Yoast SEO pluginSlider RevolutionjQueryBootstrapGoogle AnalyticsGoogle reCAPTCHA
Frameworks:
WordPress
Platforms:
Web
Performance:

moderate

Mobile:

good

Accessibility:

basic

SEO:

good

Security Assessment

Security Score:
80/100
Best Practices:
  • HTTPS enabled
  • Use of Google reCAPTCHA for forms
  • No exposed sensitive data in HTML

Analytics & Tracking

Services:
Google AnalyticsGoogle Tag Manager
Tracking Level:moderate
Privacy Compliance:basic

Advertising & Marketing

Transparency Level:good

Website Quality Assessment

Design Quality:excellent
User Experience:good
Content Relevance:excellent
Navigation Clarity:good
Professionalism:excellent
Trustworthiness:high

Key Observations

1

Website is fully accessible with no blocking or WAF challenges.

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🛡️Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis and recommendations.

Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis

15/100
Score

Missing Strict-Transport-Security header

HIGH

Forces HTTPS connections

Missing X-Frame-Options header

HIGH

Prevents clickjacking attacks

Missing X-Content-Type-Options header

MEDIUM

Prevents MIME type sniffing

Missing Content-Security-Policy header

HIGH

Controls resources the browser is allowed to load

Missing X-XSS-Protection header

MEDIUM

Legacy XSS protection (deprecated but still recommended)

Missing Referrer-Policy header

LOW

Controls referrer information sent with requests

Missing Permissions-Policy header

MEDIUM

Controls browser features and APIs

Sensitive data may be cached

LOW

Cache-Control header should include "no-store" for sensitive pages

👤GDPR Compliance

Privacy and data protection assessment under GDPR regulations.

GDPR Compliance

Privacy and data protection assessment

53/100
Score

No Cookie Policy found

HIGH

GDPR requires clear information about cookie usage

No Cookie Consent Banner found

HIGH

GDPR requires explicit consent for non-essential cookies

No Data Protection Officer mentioned

LOW

Large organizations may need to designate a DPO under GDPR

Privacy policy may not be GDPR compliant

MEDIUM

Privacy policy lacks explicit GDPR compliance elements

GDPR Compliance Analysis

Privacy Policy85% confidence
Cookie Policy0% confidence
Contact Information Found90% confidence
emailphone

🛡️NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive compliance assessment.

NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive

2/100
Score

No information security framework found

HIGH

NIS2 requires documented cybersecurity and information security measures

No vulnerability disclosure policy

MEDIUM

NIS2 encourages coordinated vulnerability disclosure

No security policy documentation found

HIGH

NIS2 requires documented cybersecurity governance and risk management

No incident response procedures found

HIGH

NIS2 requires documented incident response and business continuity plans

No business continuity planning found

MEDIUM

NIS2 emphasizes operational resilience and business continuity

No security contact information

HIGH

NIS2 requires clear incident reporting channels

No vulnerability reporting mechanism

MEDIUM

Clear vulnerability reporting supports coordinated disclosure

No NIS2 reference found

LOW

Consider explicitly mentioning NIS2 compliance efforts

Critical sector without clear security compliance

HIGH

Detected sectors: energy, transport, digital

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📧Email Security

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation and email security assessment.

Email Security

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation

85/100
Score

No BIMI Record

LOW

BIMI displays brand logos in email clients

No MTA-STS Policy

MEDIUM

MTA-STS enforces TLS for email delivery

No TLS-RPT Record

LOW

TLS-RPT provides reporting for email TLS issues

SPF
Sender Policy Framework
DKIM
DomainKeys Identified Mail
DMARC
Domain-based Message Authentication
MX Records
Mail Exchange Records
BIMI
Brand Indicators
MTA-STS
Mail Transfer Agent Security
TLS-RPT
TLS Reporting
DNSSEC
DNS Security
SPF Details
Record:
v=spf1 ip4:192.254.121.248 ip4:139.229.16.96 ip4:135.84.68.123 ip4:208.86.168.7 ip4:167.89.11.197 include:_spf.psm.knowbe4.com include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:servers.mcsv.net include:_spf.atlassian.net -all
DNS Lookups:4/10
Policy:-all
DKIM Selectors Found
Selector:k1(1296-bit rsa)
Selector:selector1(1416-bit rsa)
Selector:selector2(1296-bit rsa)
DMARC Details
Policy:quarantine
Aggregate Reports:re+2c933eabff1c@inbound.dmarcdigests.com

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

67/100
Score

Weak Protocols Supported

HIGH

Server supports weak protocols: TLSv1.1

Certificate Transparency Not Implemented

LOW

Certificate is not logged in Certificate Transparency logs

SSL Certificate Expires Within 90 Days

MEDIUM

SSL certificate expires in 89 days

Mixed Content Detected

MEDIUM

1 resources loaded over insecure HTTP

Partial SSL/TLS Assessment

LOW

Completed 3 of 4 security checks due to time constraints

Protocol Support

TLSv1.3TLSv1.2TLSv1.1

OCSP Status

OCSP Stapling Enabled

📊DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment.

DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment

70/100
Score

DNSSEC Not Enabled

MEDIUM

DNSSEC is not configured for this domain

CAA Records Not Configured

LOW

Certificate Authority Authorization (CAA) records not found

Domain Transfer Lock Not Enabled

MEDIUM

Domain can be transferred without authorization

Domain Delete Lock Not Enabled

LOW

Domain can be deleted without additional verification

Domain Registration Details

Domain Age
29 years(mature)
Expiry Risk
none(1477 days)
Protection Level
noneDNSSEC OFF
Suspicious Indicators Detected
  • No domain protection locks enabled

DNS Records

A Records:23.96.0.52
Name Servers:
ns1-04.azure-dns.com
ns2-04.azure-dns.net
ns3-04.azure-dns.org
ns4-04.azure-dns.info
MX Records:
0: auraastronomy-org01b.mail.protection.outlook.com
SOA:Serial: 1, TTL: 300s

DNSSEC Status

DNSSEC Not Enabled

DNS Performance

Resolution Time:97ms

SPF Analysis

SPF Record:
v=spf1 ip4:192.254.121.248 ip4:139.229.16.96 ip4:135.84.68.123 ip4:208.86.168.7 ip4:167.89.11.197 include:_spf.psm.knowbe4.com include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:servers.mcsv.net include:_spf.atlassian.net -all

Network Security

Port scanning and network exposure analysis.

Network Security

Port scanning and network exposure analysis

100/100
Score

Good Network Security Posture

LOW

No unnecessary services detected on common risky ports

How does aura-astronomy.org compare?

See how aura-astronomy.org stacks up against similar websites in the same industry.

🔧Technical Analysis

Detailed technical findings and analysis from AI assessment.

Technical Analysis

Comprehensive security assessment findings

Additional Findings

The website is built on a modern WordPress platform using popular plugins such as Yoast SEO and Slider Revolution, ensuring good SEO and visual presentation. The use of Google Fonts, Bootstrap, and jQuery supports responsive design and interactivity. Performance is moderate with some room for optimization, especially in image loading and script management. The site is mobile-friendly and includes structured data (JSON-LD) for enhanced search engine understanding. No major technical debt or outdated technologies were observed, indicating a well-maintained infrastructure.
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Marketing Intelligence

Contact emails, phone numbers & warm leads

49.90 €one-time • Incl. 21% VAT

Plan Comparison

FeaturePDF ReportMarketing+
Full security analysis
Professional PDF export
Email delivery
Lifetime access + unlock code
Contact emails & phones
Marketing outreach data

Already purchased?

Order summary

Domainaura-astronomy.org
Access tierFull report or marketing add-on

Digital reports are delivered immediately after payment. By continuing you acknowledge the withdrawal waiver described in our Returns & Refunds policy.

VisaMastercardApple PayGoogle Pay

Secure payments processed via EveryPay. Prices in EUR; Incl. 21% VAT.

SEQ SIA

Lastadijas 12 k-3, Riga, Latvia, LV-1050

Reg. No. 40203410806 • VAT LV40203410806

Support: guard@offseq.com+371 2256 5353

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