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Is fsfe.org a Scam? Security Check Results - Free Software Foundation Europe

fsfe.org Security Report Summary

fsfe.org received a security score of 53 out of 100 in Guard's comprehensive security analysis, classified as "Elevated Risk". This report covers Free Software Foundation Europe's website security posture. Free Software Foundation Europe operates in the Non-profit industry in N/a.

The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a well-established non-profit organization founded in 2001, dedicated to advocating for software freedom and empowering users to control technology. The website serves as a comprehensive platform for news, events, campaigns, and community engagement related to free software in Europe. It targets users, contributors, and policy stakeholders interested in digital rights and software freedom. The organization operates with a clear mission and maintains a consistent brand presence with multilingual support and community testimonials. Technically, the website employs a modern yet somewhat dated technology stack including jQuery, Modernizr, and Bootstrap 3. It is hosted under the registrar Gandi SAS and shows moderate performance with good mobile optimization and accessibility. The site lacks a CMS indication, suggesting a custom or static site approach. SEO and metadata are well implemented with comprehensive Open Graph and Twitter card tags. From a security perspective, the site uses HTTPS and has domain transfer protections but lacks DNSSEC and visible security headers. No critical vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data were detected. Privacy compliance is strong with a comprehensive privacy policy, though no cookie consent mechanism was found. Contact is primarily via forms and a contact page, with no direct emails or phone numbers publicly listed. Social media presence is limited but includes Mastodon and Peertube. Overall, FSFE's website demonstrates a high level of professionalism, trustworthiness, and content quality suitable for its non-profit advocacy role. Recommendations include enabling DNSSEC, adding security headers, implementing cookie consent, and publishing explicit security and incident response policies to further enhance trust and compliance.

The security scan identified 33 findings across security headers, SSL/TLS, DNS health, email security, GDPR compliance, and NIS2 compliance analysis modules.

Technologies detected: jQuery 3.5.1, Modernizr, Bootstrap 3.0.3.

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 fsfe.org Safe? Security Analysis for Free Software Foundation Europe

https://fsfe.org

Check if fsfe.org is a scam or legitimate. Free security scan and reviews.

Non-profitN/asmall
jQuery 3.5.1ModernizrBootstrap 3.0.3
Analyzed 10/8/2025Completed 8:33:11 PM5mo ago
53
Security Score
MEDIUM RISK

10,000+

Domains scanned

500+

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AI Summary

The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a well-established non-profit organization founded in 2001, dedicated to advocating for software freedom and empowering users to control technology. The website serves as a comprehensive platform for news, events, campaigns, and community engagement related to free software in Europe. It targets users, contributors, and policy stakeholders interested in digital rights and software freedom. The organization operates with a clear mission and maintains a consistent brand presence with multilingual support and community testimonials. Technically, the website employs a modern yet somewhat dated technology stack including jQuery, Modernizr, and Bootstrap 3. It is hosted under the registrar Gandi SAS and shows moderate performance with good mobile optimization and accessibility. The site lacks a CMS indication, suggesting a custom or static site approach. SEO and metadata are well implemented with comprehensive Open Graph and Twitter card tags. From a security perspective, the site uses HTTPS and has domain transfer protections but lacks DNSSEC and visible security headers. No critical vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data were detected. Privacy compliance is strong with a comprehensive privacy policy, though no cookie consent mechanism was found. Contact is primarily via forms and a contact page, with no direct emails or phone numbers publicly listed. Social media presence is limited but includes Mastodon and Peertube. Overall, FSFE's website demonstrates a high level of professionalism, trustworthiness, and content quality suitable for its non-profit advocacy role. Recommendations include enabling DNSSEC, adding security headers, implementing cookie consent, and publishing explicit security and incident response policies to further enhance trust and compliance.

Detected Technologies

jQuery 3.5.1ModernizrBootstrap 3.0.3

9 urgent findings need attention

9 high

  • + 1 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

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Marketing tech shifts, analytics drift, and AI recommendation updates

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Security Headers

6 findings

45/100

GDPR Compliance

4 findings

53/100

NIS2 Compliance

9 findings

2/100

Email Security

6 findings

55/100

🧠AI Business Intelligence

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

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

FSFE holds a strong market position as a leading European non-profit advocating for free software and digital rights. Its business model focuses on community engagement, legal support, and policy advocacy rather than commercial revenue. The organization benefits from a network of sister organizations globally, enhancing its influence and reach. Its target audience includes software users, developers, activists, and policymakers interested in software freedom. The website content and structure support growth through events, newsletters, and volunteer contributions. The lack of direct commercial activities aligns with its non-profit status, emphasizing transparency and community trust.

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

The security posture of FSFE's website is solid but could be improved. HTTPS is enforced, and domain transfer protections are in place, which are critical baseline measures. However, the absence of DNSSEC and security headers such as Content Security Policy, HSTS, and X-Frame-Options represents missed opportunities to harden the site against common web attacks. No incident response or vulnerability disclosure policies are publicly available, which could limit rapid response to security issues. The site does not expose sensitive data and uses secure forms for data collection. Overall, the security maturity is moderate with room for enhancement to meet best practices and compliance standards.

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for Security Improvement

1

Enable DNSSEC on the domain to improve DNS security and prevent spoofing.

Observations

AI-powered comprehensive website and business analysis.

AI-Enhanced Website Analysis

Business Insights

Company:

Free Software Foundation Europe

Description:

Non profit organisation working to create general understanding and support for software freedom. Includes news, events, and campaigns.

Key Services:
Advocacy for software freedomCommunity engagementLegal support and policy interventionEducational campaigns and events
Content Quality:

excellent

Branding:

consistent

Technical Stack

Technologies:
jQuery 3.5.1ModernizrBootstrap 3.0.3
Performance:

moderate

Mobile:

good

Accessibility:

good

SEO:

good

Security Assessment

Security Score:
75/100
Best Practices:
  • Domain status clientTransferProhibited
  • No exposed sensitive data in HTML
  • Secure forms with required fields

Analytics & Tracking

Tracking Level:minimal
Privacy Compliance:good

Advertising & Marketing

Transparency Level:poor

Website Quality Assessment

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

Key Observations

1

Website is a well-established non-profit focused on free software advocacy.

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🛡️Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis and recommendations.

Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis

45/100
Score

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, banking, digital

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📧Email Security

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

Email Security

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation

55/100
Score

DMARC not enforcing

MEDIUM

DMARC policy is set to "none"

No DMARC reporting

LOW

DMARC aggregate reports not configured

No DKIM record found

MEDIUM

DKIM adds cryptographic signatures to emails

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 mx ip4:217.69.89.128/26 ip4:188.172.205.112/28 ip4:213.95.165.48/28 ip4:31.24.147.80/28 ip4:142.132.236.94/32 ip6:2001:aa8:ffed::/48 ip6:2a00:11c0:d:1::/64 ip6:2001:780:215:1::/64 ip6:2a02:16d0:1004:5a00::/56 ip6:2a01:4f8:c17:f631::1/128 -all
DNS Lookups:1/10
Policy:-all
DMARC Details
Policy:none

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

65/100
Score

SSL Certificate Expires Within 90 Days

MEDIUM

SSL certificate expires in 39 days

Weak SSL Key Length

HIGH

SSL certificate uses 256-bit key, which is considered weak

Mixed Content Detected

MEDIUM

2 resources loaded over insecure HTTP

Partial SSL/TLS Assessment

LOW

Completed 2 of 4 security checks due to time constraints

Certificate Details

Subject:fsfe.org
Issuer:E5
Valid Until:11/17/2025 (39 days)
SANs:fsfe.org, fsfeurope.org, www.fsfe.org +1 more

OCSP Status

OCSP Stapling Disabled

📊DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment.

DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment

80/100
Score

DNSSEC Not Enabled

MEDIUM

DNSSEC is not configured for this domain

Domain Delete Lock Not Enabled

LOW

Domain can be deleted without additional verification

DMARC Policy Set to None

LOW

DMARC is configured but not enforcing any policy

Domain Registration Details

Domain Age
24 years(mature)
Expiry Risk
low(63 days)
Protection Level
basicDNSSEC OFF

DNS Records

A Records:213.95.165.54, 31.24.147.87
AAAA Records:2a02:16d0:1004:5a00:f5f3::87, 2001:780:215:1::54
Name Servers:
geoffroy.fsfeurope.org
tennant.fsfeurope.org
MX Records:
20: mail2.fsfe.org
5: mail3.fsfe.org

DNSSEC Status

DNSSEC Not Enabled

Network Security

Port scanning and network exposure analysis.

Network Security

Port scanning and network exposure analysis

40/100
Score

Service Exposed: SSH

MEDIUM

Port 22 (SSH) is publicly accessible - SSH - Secure but can be brute-forced

How does fsfe.org compare?

See how fsfe.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 uses a combination of jQuery 3.5.1, Modernizr, and Bootstrap 3.0.3, indicating a stable but somewhat dated frontend technology stack. The site is likely custom-built or statically generated, as no CMS is detected. Performance is moderate with good mobile responsiveness and accessibility features. SEO is well addressed through meta tags and multilingual support. Hosting is managed via Gandi SAS, a reputable registrar and hosting provider. There is no evidence of modern JavaScript frameworks or advanced backend technologies in the provided HTML. The site could benefit from modernization to improve performance and maintainability.
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Marketing Intelligence

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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

Domainfsfe.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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