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Is msu.edu a Scam? Security Check Results - Michigan State University

msu.edu Security Report Summary

msu.edu received a security score of 60 out of 100 in Guard's comprehensive security analysis, classified as "Moderate Risk". This report covers Michigan State University's website security posture. Michigan State University operates in the Education industry in United States.

Michigan State University is a large, well-established public research university in the United States, offering a broad range of academic programs and research initiatives. The website serves multiple audiences including prospective and current students, alumni, faculty, and the general public. It provides comprehensive information about admissions, academics, research, campus life, and community engagement. The institution holds a strong market position as a top 30 public university with recognized sustainability efforts. Technically, the website is built on a modern stack including Sitecore CMS, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and other marketing and analytics tools. It is well optimized for mobile devices and accessibility, with a professional design and clear navigation. The site uses HTTPS and employs security best practices such as reCAPTCHA Enterprise, though some security headers could be enhanced. From a security perspective, the site shows a mature posture with no obvious vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data. Privacy compliance is good with a comprehensive privacy policy, though cookie consent mechanisms could be improved. WHOIS data confirms the domain's legitimacy and consistency with the university's identity. Overall, the site is trustworthy, professional, and secure, supporting the university's brand and mission effectively.

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

Technologies detected: Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, Twitter Universal Website Tag, Microsoft Clarity, YouTube iframe API, jQuery, Sitecore CMS, reCAPTCHA Enterprise.

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 msu.edu Safe? Security Analysis for Michigan State University

https://msu.edu

Check if msu.edu is a scam or legitimate. Free security scan and reviews.

EducationUnited Stateslarge
Google AnalyticsGoogle Tag ManagerFacebook PixelLinkedIn Insight TagTwitter Universal Website Tag+5 more
Analyzed 9/7/2025Completed 5:48:34 AM6mo ago
60
Security Score
MEDIUM RISK

Above Education avg (55)

10,000+

Domains scanned

500+

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AI Summary

Michigan State University is a large, well-established public research university in the United States, offering a broad range of academic programs and research initiatives. The website serves multiple audiences including prospective and current students, alumni, faculty, and the general public. It provides comprehensive information about admissions, academics, research, campus life, and community engagement. The institution holds a strong market position as a top 30 public university with recognized sustainability efforts. Technically, the website is built on a modern stack including Sitecore CMS, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and other marketing and analytics tools. It is well optimized for mobile devices and accessibility, with a professional design and clear navigation. The site uses HTTPS and employs security best practices such as reCAPTCHA Enterprise, though some security headers could be enhanced. From a security perspective, the site shows a mature posture with no obvious vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data. Privacy compliance is good with a comprehensive privacy policy, though cookie consent mechanisms could be improved. WHOIS data confirms the domain's legitimacy and consistency with the university's identity. Overall, the site is trustworthy, professional, and secure, supporting the university's brand and mission effectively.

Detected Technologies

Google AnalyticsGoogle Tag ManagerFacebook PixelLinkedIn Insight TagTwitter Universal Website TagMicrosoft ClarityYouTube iframe APIjQuerySitecore CMSreCAPTCHA Enterprise

11 urgent findings need attention

11 high

  • + 3 more findings in the full report below
Continuous monitoring

Keep msu.edu under constant watch

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

7 findings

20/100

GDPR Compliance

4 findings

53/100

NIS2 Compliance

9 findings

2/100

Email Security

4 findings

75/100

🧠AI Business Intelligence

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

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

Michigan State University operates as a public educational institution with a business model centered on providing higher education and conducting research. Its competitive advantages include a large program offering, strong research funding, and a broad geographic and demographic reach. The university leverages partnerships with various educational and research entities, as evidenced by linked domains and external references. Revenue streams likely include tuition, government funding, research grants, and donations. The website reflects a mature digital presence with extensive content and engagement tools, indicating a strategic approach to recruitment and community relations.

Extracted Contact Information

Marketing Intelligence Data

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

The website demonstrates a solid security posture with enforced HTTPS, use of reCAPTCHA Enterprise, and reputable third-party analytics and marketing scripts. However, explicit security headers such as Content-Security-Policy and X-Frame-Options are not clearly present in the HTML content, which could be improved to mitigate risks like clickjacking and content injection. No vulnerability disclosures or incident response contacts are found, which is a gap in transparency and readiness. The absence of a security.txt file or similar indicates an opportunity to enhance security communication. Overall, the site is secure but could benefit from additional security hardening and clearer incident response information.

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for Security Improvement

1

Implement and enforce Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, and X-Content-Type-Options HTTP headers to strengthen security.

Observations

AI-powered comprehensive website and business analysis.

AI-Enhanced Website Analysis

Business Insights

Company:

Michigan State University

Description:

Michigan State University is a large public research university offering more than 400 areas of study across 17 colleges, with extensive programs in academics, research, campus life, and community engagement.

Key Services:
Undergraduate and graduate educationResearch initiatives and centersCampus life and student servicesCommunity outreach and partnerships
Content Quality:

excellent

Branding:

consistent

Technical Stack

Technologies:
Google AnalyticsGoogle Tag ManagerFacebook PixelLinkedIn Insight TagTwitter Universal Website TagMicrosoft ClarityYouTube iframe APIjQuerySitecore CMSreCAPTCHA Enterprise
Frameworks:
Sitecore Experience Platform
Platforms:
YouTubeLinkedInFacebookTwitterSnapchat
Performance:

moderate

Mobile:

excellent

Accessibility:

excellent

SEO:

good

Security Assessment

Security Score:
85/100
Best Practices:
  • HTTPS enforced
  • Use of reCAPTCHA Enterprise
  • No exposed sensitive data in HTML
  • Use of security and analytics scripts from reputable sources

Analytics & Tracking

Services:
Google AnalyticsMicrosoft Clarity
Tracking Level:extensive
Privacy Compliance:basic

Advertising & Marketing

Ad Networks:
Twitter AdsSnapchat Ads
Tracking Pixels:
Facebook PixelLinkedIn Insight TagTwitter Universal Website TagSnapchat PixelMicrosoft Clarity
Transparency Level:good

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 educational institution site with comprehensive content.

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🛡️Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis and recommendations.

Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis

20/100
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

👤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
phone

🛡️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: 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

75/100
Score

DMARC not enforcing

MEDIUM

DMARC policy is set to "none"

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 ip4:35.8.0.0/13 ip4:207.74.148.0/24 ip4:192.231.113.0/24 ip4:162.247.216.0/22 ip4:66.151.109.0/24 ip4:34.194.230.233 ip4:34.230.107.215 ip4:148.163.147.0/24 ip4:148.163.143.0/24 include:_external.mail.msu.edu include:_external2.mail.msu.edu -all
DNS Lookups:2/10
Policy:-all
DKIM Selectors Found
Selector:k2(1416-bit rsa)
Selector:selector1(1296-bit rsa)
Selector:mail(1296-bit rsa)
Selector:s1(1440-bit rsa)
DMARC Details
Policy:none
Aggregate Reports:dmarc_rua@emaildefense.proofpoint.com
Forensic Reports:dmarc_ruf@emaildefense.proofpoint.com

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

64/100
Score

Weak Protocols Supported

HIGH

Server supports weak protocols: TLSv1.1

Certificate Transparency Not Implemented

LOW

Certificate is not logged in Certificate Transparency logs

Short HSTS Max-Age

LOW

HSTS max-age is less than 1 year

HSTS Missing includeSubDomains

LOW

HSTS header does not include subdomains

Mixed Content Detected

MEDIUM

14 resources loaded over insecure HTTP

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

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

DMARC Policy Set to None

LOW

DMARC is configured but not enforcing any policy

Domain Registration Details

Expiry Risk
none(854 days)

DNS Records

A Records:45.60.108.246, 45.60.63.246
Name Servers:
ns-1432.awsdns-51.orgDNS only
ns-1827.awsdns-36.co.ukDNS only
ns-64.awsdns-08.comDNS only
ns-665.awsdns-19.netDNS only
MX Records:
5: mxa-00165801.gslb.pphosted.com
5: mxb-00165801.gslb.pphosted.com
SOA:Serial: 1, TTL: 86400s

DNSSEC Status

DNSSEC Not Enabled

DNS Performance

Resolution Time:153ms

SPF Analysis

SPF Record:
v=spf1 ip4:35.8.0.0/13 ip4:207.74.148.0/24 ip4:192.231.113.0/24 ip4:162.247.216.0/22 ip4:66.151.109.0/24 ip4:34.194.230.233 ip4:34.230.107.215 ip4:148.163.147.0/24 ip4:148.163.143.0/24 include:_external.mail.msu.edu include:_external2.mail.msu.edu -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 msu.edu compare?

See how msu.edu 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 the Sitecore Experience Platform CMS, integrating multiple modern analytics and marketing technologies such as Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, Twitter Tag, and Microsoft Clarity. It uses asynchronous loading for scripts to optimize performance and includes accessibility features like skip navigation links and ARIA labels. The site is mobile responsive with adaptive images and media queries. Performance is moderate, with potential improvements in caching and script optimization. The technical infrastructure supports a robust user experience but could benefit from enhanced security headers and privacy controls.
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

Domainmsu.edu
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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