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Is bristol.ac.uk a Scam? Security Check Results - University of Bristol

bristol.ac.uk Security Report Summary

bristol.ac.uk received a security score of 39 out of 100 in Guard's comprehensive security analysis, classified as "Potentially Unsafe". This report covers University of Bristol's website security posture. University of Bristol operates in the Education industry in United Kingdom.

The University of Bristol operates a comprehensive and professional website serving prospective and current students, staff, alumni, and the wider community. The site provides detailed information on undergraduate and postgraduate courses, research activities, and community engagement, positioning the university as a leading educational institution in the UK and globally. The website content is well-structured, accessible, and rich in relevant information, reflecting a strong digital presence. Technically, the website employs modern JavaScript frameworks such as StencilJS and integrates tracking and analytics tools like Google Tag Manager and TrackedWeb. However, the site suffers from significant performance issues, including a slow load time and a large page size, which could impact user experience. Mobile optimization and accessibility are well addressed, contributing positively to overall usability. From a security perspective, the website exhibits critical weaknesses, notably the absence of a valid SSL certificate and HTTPS support, exposing users to potential data interception risks. Additionally, no security headers or advanced TLS protocols are enabled, and no incident response or vulnerability disclosure policies are publicly available. Privacy compliance is strong, with comprehensive privacy and cookie policies aligned with GDPR requirements. Overall, while the University of Bristol's website excels in content quality and business credibility, urgent improvements in security infrastructure and performance optimization are necessary to enhance trust and protect users. Strategic recommendations include implementing HTTPS, enabling security headers, optimizing performance, and publishing clear security policies.

The security scan identified 26 findings across security headers, SSL/TLS, DNS health, email security, GDPR compliance, and NIS2 compliance analysis modules.

Technologies detected: JavaScript, Google Tag Manager, TrackedWeb, Termly, StencilJS.

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 bristol.ac.uk Safe? Security Analysis for University of Bristol

http://bristol.ac.uk

Check if bristol.ac.uk is a scam or legitimate. Free security scan and reviews.

EducationUnited Kingdomlarge
JavaScriptGoogle Tag ManagerTrackedWebTermlyStencilJS
Analyzed 6/15/2025Completed 8:37:43 AM9mo ago
39
Security Score
HIGH RISK

Below Education avg (55)

10,000+

Domains scanned

500+

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Domainbristol.ac.uk
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AI Summary

The University of Bristol operates a comprehensive and professional website serving prospective and current students, staff, alumni, and the wider community. The site provides detailed information on undergraduate and postgraduate courses, research activities, and community engagement, positioning the university as a leading educational institution in the UK and globally. The website content is well-structured, accessible, and rich in relevant information, reflecting a strong digital presence. Technically, the website employs modern JavaScript frameworks such as StencilJS and integrates tracking and analytics tools like Google Tag Manager and TrackedWeb. However, the site suffers from significant performance issues, including a slow load time and a large page size, which could impact user experience. Mobile optimization and accessibility are well addressed, contributing positively to overall usability. From a security perspective, the website exhibits critical weaknesses, notably the absence of a valid SSL certificate and HTTPS support, exposing users to potential data interception risks. Additionally, no security headers or advanced TLS protocols are enabled, and no incident response or vulnerability disclosure policies are publicly available. Privacy compliance is strong, with comprehensive privacy and cookie policies aligned with GDPR requirements. Overall, while the University of Bristol's website excels in content quality and business credibility, urgent improvements in security infrastructure and performance optimization are necessary to enhance trust and protect users. Strategic recommendations include implementing HTTPS, enabling security headers, optimizing performance, and publishing clear security policies.

Detected Technologies

JavaScriptGoogle Tag ManagerTrackedWebTermlyStencilJS

13 urgent findings need attention

3 critical · 10 high

  • + 5 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

5 findings

15/100

NIS2 Compliance

8 findings

5/100

Email Security

1 finding

50/100

🧠AI Business Intelligence

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

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

The University of Bristol is a large, established educational institution with a strong market position, ranked among the top universities globally and in the UK. Its business model focuses on delivering high-quality education and research services to a diverse audience including students, staff, and the community. The university leverages partnerships and community engagement to enhance its offerings. The website reflects a mature digital strategy with comprehensive content and consistent branding. Revenue streams likely include tuition fees, research grants, and partnerships. The presence of multiple social media channels indicates active engagement with stakeholders. Growth indicators include upcoming campus expansions and continuous ranking improvements.

Extracted Contact Information

Marketing Intelligence Data

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

The current security posture of the website is weak due to the lack of HTTPS and valid SSL certificates, which is a critical vulnerability. The absence of security headers and modern TLS protocols further exacerbates the risk profile. No explicit security or incident response policies are published, and no vulnerability disclosure mechanisms are evident. While privacy policies are comprehensive and GDPR compliant, the technical security deficiencies pose significant risks to data confidentiality and integrity. The university should prioritize securing its web infrastructure to protect users and maintain trust.

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for Security Improvement

1

Implement a valid SSL/TLS certificate and enforce HTTPS across the entire website.

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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

15/100
Score

No Privacy Policy found

HIGH

GDPR requires a clear and accessible privacy policy

No Cookie Consent Banner found

HIGH

GDPR requires explicit consent for non-essential cookies

Insufficient contact information

MEDIUM

GDPR requires organizations to provide clear contact details

Third-party services without privacy policy

HIGH

Detected services: Google Analytics, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

No HTTPS encryption

CRITICAL

GDPR requires appropriate security measures for personal data

GDPR Compliance Analysis

Privacy Policy0% confidence
Cookie Policy80% confidence

🛡️NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive compliance assessment.

NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive

5/100
Score

No HTTPS encryption

CRITICAL

NIS2 requires appropriate technical measures including encryption

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 NIS2 reference found

LOW

Consider explicitly mentioning NIS2 compliance efforts

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📧Email Security

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

Email Security

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation

50/100
Score

Email Security Check Incomplete

MEDIUM

Some email security checks timed out

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

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

0/100
Score

No HTTPS Encryption

CRITICAL

Website does not use HTTPS encryption, making all data transmission vulnerable to interception

OCSP Status

OCSP Stapling Disabled

📊DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment.

DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment

85/100
Score

DNSSEC Not Enabled

MEDIUM

DNSSEC is not configured for this domain

CAA Records Not Configured

LOW

Certificate Authority Authorization (CAA) records not found

DNS Records

A Records:137.222.1.237
Name Servers:
irix.bris.ac.ukDNS only
ncs.bris.ac.ukDNS only
ns3.ja.netDNS only
MX Records:
0: bristol-ac-uk.mail.protection.outlook.com

DNSSEC Status

DNSSEC Not Enabled

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 bristol.ac.uk compare?

bristol.ac.uk scores below average. Browse similar domains to see how competitors handle security.

🔧Technical Analysis

Detailed technical findings and analysis from AI assessment.

Technical Analysis

Comprehensive security assessment findings

Additional Findings

The website uses modern JavaScript frameworks (StencilJS) and integrates third-party tracking and analytics tools (Google Tag Manager, TrackedWeb, Termly). The hosting appears to be managed by the university or an academic network. Despite modern technologies, the site suffers from slow load times and lacks HTTPS, which is a major technical risk. Accessibility and SEO optimizations are well implemented. There is no evidence of a commercial CMS, suggesting a custom or proprietary platform. Technical debt is indicated by missing security best practices and performance issues, which could impact business operations if not addressed.
Professional PDF & Marketing Data

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PDF Report & Export

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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

Domainbristol.ac.uk
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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