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Is hdc.dev a Scam? Security Check Results - Howard Development & Consulting

hdc.dev Security Report Summary

hdc.dev received a security score of 55 out of 100 in Guard's comprehensive security analysis, classified as "Elevated Risk". This report covers Howard Development & Consulting's website security posture. Howard Development & Consulting operates in the Technology industry in United States.

Howard Development & Consulting (HDC) is a specialized web development firm focused on serving high-end creative agencies and ambitious entrepreneurs. The company offers a range of services including handcrafted web development, branding and design, open source theme frameworks, and AI consulting. With a US-based team and a history dating back to 1999, HDC positions itself as a trusted partner delivering secure, high-performance websites for notable clients such as Harvard Law School and The World Bank. The website reflects a professional and consistent brand image, targeting agency owners and entrepreneurs seeking reliable web solutions. Technically, the website is built on WordPress using modern themes and frameworks, with integrations for Google Tag Manager and Facebook Pixel for analytics and marketing. Hosting and DNS are managed via Cloudflare, ensuring good performance and security. The site is mobile-optimized and accessible, with fast loading times and clear navigation. However, some security best practices such as enabling DNSSEC and publishing security headers are missing. From a security perspective, the site uses HTTPS and has domain transfer protections in place, but lacks published privacy and cookie policies, which impacts GDPR compliance. No incident response or vulnerability disclosure information is available, indicating room for improvement in transparency and security readiness. Tracking technologies are used without visible consent mechanisms, which may pose privacy compliance risks. Overall, HDC demonstrates a strong business credibility and technical maturity with a solid market position. Strategic recommendations include implementing comprehensive privacy and cookie policies, enhancing security headers, enabling DNSSEC, and publishing incident response and vulnerability disclosure policies to improve compliance and trust.

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

Technologies detected: JavaScript, Vimeo embeds, Google Tag Manager, Facebook Pixel, WordPress.

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 hdc.dev Safe? Security Analysis for Howard Development & Consulting

https://hdc.dev

Check if hdc.dev is a scam or legitimate. Free security scan and reviews.

TechnologyUnited Statessmall
JavaScriptVimeo embedsGoogle Tag ManagerFacebook PixelWordPress
Analyzed 10/12/2025Completed 9:52:28 AM7mo ago
55
Security Score
MEDIUM RISK

Below Technology avg (72)

10,000+

Domains scanned

500+

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Domainhdc.dev
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

Howard Development & Consulting (HDC) is a specialized web development firm focused on serving high-end creative agencies and ambitious entrepreneurs. The company offers a range of services including handcrafted web development, branding and design, open source theme frameworks, and AI consulting. With a US-based team and a history dating back to 1999, HDC positions itself as a trusted partner delivering secure, high-performance websites for notable clients such as Harvard Law School and The World Bank. The website reflects a professional and consistent brand image, targeting agency owners and entrepreneurs seeking reliable web solutions. Technically, the website is built on WordPress using modern themes and frameworks, with integrations for Google Tag Manager and Facebook Pixel for analytics and marketing. Hosting and DNS are managed via Cloudflare, ensuring good performance and security. The site is mobile-optimized and accessible, with fast loading times and clear navigation. However, some security best practices such as enabling DNSSEC and publishing security headers are missing. From a security perspective, the site uses HTTPS and has domain transfer protections in place, but lacks published privacy and cookie policies, which impacts GDPR compliance. No incident response or vulnerability disclosure information is available, indicating room for improvement in transparency and security readiness. Tracking technologies are used without visible consent mechanisms, which may pose privacy compliance risks. Overall, HDC demonstrates a strong business credibility and technical maturity with a solid market position. Strategic recommendations include implementing comprehensive privacy and cookie policies, enhancing security headers, enabling DNSSEC, and publishing incident response and vulnerability disclosure policies to improve compliance and trust.

Detected Technologies

JavaScriptVimeo embedsGoogle Tag ManagerFacebook PixelWordPress

14 urgent findings need attention

14 high

  • + 6 more findings in the full report below
Continuous monitoring

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Guard tracks your live infrastructure daily: certificate expiry, DNS & mail authentication drift, uptime changes, subdomain inventory, and unexpected tracker or content shifts. A full timeline captures every diff so you can prove remediation and spot regressions instantly.

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

35/100

NIS2 Compliance

9 findings

2/100

Email Security

5 findings

50/100

🧠AI Business Intelligence

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

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

HDC operates in the technology sector, specifically in web development and AI consulting. The company leverages a service-based business model targeting agencies and entrepreneurs, emphasizing fixed fees and US-based support. Their competitive advantage lies in combining technical expertise with entrepreneurial experience, offering flexible and high-quality services. The company has a strong partnership ecosystem including open source projects and educational initiatives. Growth indicators include a large client base powering over 100,000 websites and endorsements from prestigious clients. The company maintains a professional online presence with clear contact channels and trust signals such as verified reviews and testimonials.

Extracted Contact Information

Marketing Intelligence Data

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

The security posture of HDC is moderate to good. The website enforces HTTPS and uses Cloudflare for DNS and CDN services, which provides baseline security and performance benefits. Domain registration status includes clientTransferProhibited, preventing unauthorized transfers. However, the absence of DNSSEC reduces DNS security. No security headers were detected in the HTML content, which could expose the site to certain web-based attacks. There is no publicly available privacy policy or cookie consent mechanism, which is a compliance gap under GDPR and other privacy regulations. Incident response and vulnerability disclosure policies are not published, limiting transparency and preparedness. Tracking technologies are present without explicit user consent, posing privacy risks. Overall, while foundational security measures are in place, improvements are needed to meet higher compliance and security standards.

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for Security Improvement

1

Publish a comprehensive privacy policy and cookie policy with GDPR compliance details.

Observations

AI-powered comprehensive website and business analysis.

AI-Enhanced Website Analysis

Business Insights

Company:

Howard Development & Consulting

Description:

The web dev firm that helps agency owners and ambitious entrepreneurs harness the future of the web. Focuses on partnerships with high-end creative agencies and ambitious entrepreneurs, delivering web development, security, and performance.

Key Services:
Web DevelopmentBranding & DesignOpen Source Theme FrameworkAI Consulting
Content Quality:

excellent

Branding:

consistent

Technical Stack

Technologies:
JavaScriptVimeo embedsGoogle Tag ManagerFacebook PixelWordPress
Frameworks:
WordPress Twenty Twenty-Four themeUnderstrap (open source theme framework)
Platforms:
WordPress CMS
Performance:

fast

Mobile:

excellent

Accessibility:

good

SEO:

good

Security Assessment

Security Score:
75/100
Best Practices:
  • HTTPS enabled
  • Domain status clientTransferProhibited
  • No exposed sensitive data detected

Analytics & Tracking

Services:
Google Analytics (via Google Tag Manager)
Tracking Level:moderate
Privacy Compliance:poor

Advertising & Marketing

Tracking Pixels:
Facebook Pixel
Transparency Level:basic

Website Quality Assessment

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

Key Observations

1

Website is professionally designed and well-structured.

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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

35/100
Score

No Privacy Policy found

HIGH

GDPR requires a clear and accessible privacy policy

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

Third-party services without privacy policy

HIGH

Detected services: Google Analytics, Facebook, LinkedIn

GDPR Compliance Analysis

Privacy Policy0% 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, health, digital

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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

No DMARC record found

HIGH

DMARC provides email authentication and reporting

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 include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net include:zoho.com ~all
DNS Lookups:3/10
Policy:~all
DMARC Details
Policy:none

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

75/100
Score

SSL Certificate Expires Within 90 Days

MEDIUM

SSL certificate expires in 68 days

Weak SSL Key Length

HIGH

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

Partial SSL/TLS Assessment

LOW

Completed 2 of 4 security checks due to time constraints

Certificate Details

Subject:hdc.net
Issuer:WE1
Valid Until:12/20/2025 (68 days)
SANs:hdc.net, *.hdc.net

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

CAA Records Not Configured

LOW

Certificate Authority Authorization (CAA) records not found

Domain Delete Lock Not Enabled

LOW

Domain can be deleted without additional verification

Domain Registration Details

Domain Age
28 years(mature)
Expiry Risk
low(4 days)
Protection Level
basicDNSSEC OFF

DNS Records

A Records:104.21.25.144, 172.67.134.78
AAAA Records:2606:4700:3033::ac43:864e, 2606:4700:3033::6815:1990
Name Servers:
edna.ns.cloudflare.com
lynn.ns.cloudflare.com
MX Records:
5: alt2.aspmx.l.google.com
1: aspmx.l.google.com
10: alt3.aspmx.l.google.com
5: alt1.aspmx.l.google.com
10: alt4.aspmx.l.google.com

DNSSEC Status

DNSSEC Not Enabled

SPF Analysis

SPF Record:
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net include:zoho.com ~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 hdc.dev compare?

See how hdc.dev 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 WordPress using the Twenty Twenty-Four theme and the Understrap open source theme framework. It integrates modern JavaScript libraries and embeds videos via Vimeo. Analytics and marketing tools include Google Tag Manager and Facebook Pixel, enabling user tracking and retargeting. Hosting and DNS are managed through Cloudflare, providing CDN and security benefits. The site is mobile-optimized with responsive design and good accessibility features. Performance is fast with optimized images and structured content. However, the absence of DNSSEC and security headers indicates technical debt in security hardening. The site lacks visible privacy and cookie compliance mechanisms, which are important for regulatory adherence. Overall, the technical infrastructure is modern and robust but can be improved in security and privacy compliance.
Professional PDF & Marketing Data

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PDF Report & Export

PDF download, email delivery, unlock code

39.90 €one-time • Incl. 21% VAT

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

Domainhdc.dev
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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