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Is medlineplus.gov a Scam? Security Check Results - MedlinePlus

medlineplus.gov Security Report Summary

medlineplus.gov received a security score of 70 out of 100 in Guard's comprehensive security analysis, classified as "Moderate Risk". This report covers MedlinePlus's website security posture. MedlinePlus operates in the Healthcare industry in United States.

MedlinePlus is a reputable government-operated health information portal managed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It provides comprehensive, easy-to-understand health information targeting patients, families, and the general public. The website offers a wide range of services including health topics, drug information, genetics, medical tests, and a medical encyclopedia, positioning itself as an authoritative source in the healthcare information sector. The site is well-branded, consistent, and trusted, leveraging its official .gov domain and affiliation with NIH/NLM. Technically, the website employs modern web technologies such as jQuery, Google Analytics, Crazy Egg, Google Tag Manager, and the US Web Design System (USWDS) to ensure a responsive, accessible, and SEO-optimized user experience. Hosting appears to be managed internally by NIH/NLM, contributing to fast performance and high availability. The site is mobile-optimized and accessible, adhering to government web standards. From a security perspective, MedlinePlus enforces HTTPS, uses secure domain registration practices, and employs secure forms. However, it lacks DNSSEC and explicit security headers in the HTML content. There is no visible cookie consent mechanism, which may impact privacy compliance. The site links to a vulnerability disclosure policy hosted by HHS but does not provide a dedicated security policy or security.txt file. Overall, the security posture is strong but could be improved with additional headers and privacy features. Overall, MedlinePlus is a high-quality, trustworthy government health information website with excellent content and technical implementation. Minor improvements in privacy compliance and security policy transparency are recommended to enhance user trust and regulatory adherence.

The security scan identified 23 findings across security headers, SSL/TLS, DNS health, email security, GDPR compliance, and NIS2 compliance analysis modules.

Technologies detected: jQuery 3.6.0, Google Analytics, Crazy Egg, Google Tag Manager, US Web Design System (USWDS).

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 medlineplus.gov Safe? Security Analysis for MedlinePlus

https://medlineplus.gov

Check if medlineplus.gov is a scam or legitimate. Free security scan and reviews.

HealthcareUnited Stateslarge
jQuery 3.6.0Google AnalyticsCrazy EggGoogle Tag ManagerUS Web Design System (USWDS)
Analyzed 10/8/2025Completed 6:14:39 AM8mo ago
70
Security Score
MEDIUM RISK

Above Healthcare avg (65)

10,000+

Domains scanned

500+

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AI Summary

MedlinePlus is a reputable government-operated health information portal managed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It provides comprehensive, easy-to-understand health information targeting patients, families, and the general public. The website offers a wide range of services including health topics, drug information, genetics, medical tests, and a medical encyclopedia, positioning itself as an authoritative source in the healthcare information sector. The site is well-branded, consistent, and trusted, leveraging its official .gov domain and affiliation with NIH/NLM. Technically, the website employs modern web technologies such as jQuery, Google Analytics, Crazy Egg, Google Tag Manager, and the US Web Design System (USWDS) to ensure a responsive, accessible, and SEO-optimized user experience. Hosting appears to be managed internally by NIH/NLM, contributing to fast performance and high availability. The site is mobile-optimized and accessible, adhering to government web standards. From a security perspective, MedlinePlus enforces HTTPS, uses secure domain registration practices, and employs secure forms. However, it lacks DNSSEC and explicit security headers in the HTML content. There is no visible cookie consent mechanism, which may impact privacy compliance. The site links to a vulnerability disclosure policy hosted by HHS but does not provide a dedicated security policy or security.txt file. Overall, the security posture is strong but could be improved with additional headers and privacy features. Overall, MedlinePlus is a high-quality, trustworthy government health information website with excellent content and technical implementation. Minor improvements in privacy compliance and security policy transparency are recommended to enhance user trust and regulatory adherence.

Detected Technologies

jQuery 3.6.0Google AnalyticsCrazy EggGoogle Tag ManagerUS Web Design System (USWDS)

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

Content & tracker intelligence

Marketing tech shifts, analytics drift, and AI recommendation updates

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Security Headers

3 findings

80/100

GDPR Compliance

4 findings

35/100

NIS2 Compliance

6 findings

35/100

Email Security

5 findings

60/100

🧠AI Business Intelligence

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

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

MedlinePlus operates as a government service providing trusted health information to the public, leveraging its affiliation with NIH and NLM to maintain authoritative content. Its market position is strong as a primary source for health education and information in the United States. The business model is non-commercial, focusing on public health education and outreach. Key services include health topics, drug and supplement information, genetics, medical tests, and integration with electronic health records via MedlinePlus Connect. The target audience includes patients, families, healthcare providers, and researchers. The website demonstrates strong partnership ecosystems with NIH, NLM, HHS, and related government entities. Growth indicators include continuous content updates and integration with modern web analytics and user feedback tools. The site maintains a professional and consistent brand image aligned with government standards.

Extracted Contact Information

Marketing Intelligence Data

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

MedlinePlus exhibits a mature security posture with mandatory HTTPS, secure domain registration status (serverTransferProhibited), and no visible exposure of sensitive data. The use of secure forms and absence of vulnerable libraries further strengthen its security. However, the lack of DNSSEC and missing security headers such as Content-Security-Policy and X-Frame-Options represent areas for improvement. The absence of a cookie consent mechanism and dedicated security policy page may pose compliance risks, especially under privacy regulations like GDPR. The presence of a vulnerability disclosure policy linked via HHS is a positive indicator of incident response readiness. Overall, the site is secure but should enhance transparency and privacy controls to align with best practices.

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:

MedlinePlus

Description:

Find information on health conditions, wellness issues, and more in easy-to-read language on MedlinePlus, the up-to-date, trusted health information site from the NIH and the National Library of Medicine.

Key Services:
Health TopicsDrugs & SupplementsGeneticsMedical TestsMedical EncyclopediaHealthy RecipesMedlinePlus Connect for EHRs
Content Quality:

excellent

Branding:

consistent

Technical Stack

Technologies:
jQuery 3.6.0Google AnalyticsCrazy EggGoogle Tag ManagerUS Web Design System (USWDS)
Frameworks:
USWDS
Performance:

fast

Mobile:

excellent

Accessibility:

excellent

SEO:

excellent

Security Assessment

Security Score:
90/100
Best Practices:
  • HTTPS enforced
  • ServerTransferProhibited domain status
  • No exposed sensitive data in HTML
  • Secure forms with POST method
  • No vulnerable libraries detected

Analytics & Tracking

Services:
Google AnalyticsCrazy EggDigitalGov Universal Federated Analytics
Tracking Level:moderate
Privacy Compliance:basic

Advertising & Marketing

Tracking Pixels:
Crazy Egg
Marketing Tools:
Qualtrics Site Intercept
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

Official US government health information website.

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🛡️Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis and recommendations.

Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis

80/100
Score

Weak Strict-Transport-Security configuration

LOW

Current value: "max-age= 63072000; includeSubdomains; preload"

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, Twitter

GDPR Compliance Analysis

Privacy Policy0% confidence
Cookie Policy0% confidence
Contact Information Found90% confidence
phone

🛡️NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive compliance assessment.

NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive

35/100
Score

No information security framework found

HIGH

NIS2 requires documented cybersecurity and information security measures

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

60/100
Score

No MX records found

MEDIUM

Domain cannot receive email without MX records

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:nih.gov ~all
DMARC Details
Policy:reject

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

90/100
Score

Mixed Content Detected

MEDIUM

1 resources loaded over insecure HTTP

Partial SSL/TLS Assessment

LOW

Completed 2 of 4 security checks due to time constraints

Certificate Details

Subject:medlineplus.gov
Issuer:Amazon RSA 2048 M02
Valid Until:3/2/2026 (145 days)
SANs:medlineplus.gov, medlineplus.com, medlineplus.awsprod.nlm.nih.gov +7 more

OCSP Status

OCSP Stapling Disabled

📊DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment.

DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment

70/100
Score

No Name Servers Found

HIGH

Unable to find name servers for domain

DNSSEC Not Enabled

MEDIUM

DNSSEC is not configured for this domain

DNS Records

A Records:108.156.22.117, 108.156.22.61, 108.156.22.23, 108.156.22.69
AAAA Records:2600:9000:2368:a200:1:6b7c:7400:93a1, 2600:9000:2368:2200:1:6b7c:7400:93a1, 2600:9000:2368:cc00:1:6b7c:7400:93a1, 2600:9000:2368:ce00:1:6b7c:7400:93a1, 2600:9000:2368:e400:1:6b7c:7400:93a1, 2600:9000:2368:2000:1:6b7c:7400:93a1, 2600:9000:2368:3600:1:6b7c:7400:93a1, 2600:9000:2368:a00:1:6b7c:7400:93a1
MX Records:
10: nihcesxway3.hub.nih.gov
10: nihcesxway4.hub.nih.gov
10: nihcesxway5.hub.nih.gov

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 medlineplus.gov compare?

See how medlineplus.gov 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 modern and robust technology stack including jQuery 3.6.0, Google Analytics, Crazy Egg, Google Tag Manager, and the US Web Design System (USWDS) framework, ensuring responsive design, accessibility, and SEO optimization. Hosting appears to be managed by NIH/NLM, contributing to fast load times and high availability. The site uses valid HTML and CSS with no detected broken elements. The search form uses GET method with hidden fields for project and source parameters, indicating structured search functionality. Analytics and tracking scripts are loaded asynchronously to optimize performance. There is no evidence of a commercial CMS; likely a custom or government CMS is used. Overall, the technical implementation is solid with opportunities to enhance security headers and privacy features.
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Marketing Intelligence

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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

Domainmedlineplus.gov
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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