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Is pa.gov a Scam? Security Check Results - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

pa.gov Security Report Summary

pa.gov received a security score of 71 out of 100 in Guard's comprehensive security analysis, classified as "Moderate Risk". This report covers Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's website security posture. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania operates in the Government industry in United States.

The website www.pa.gov serves as the official online portal for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing residents and visitors with access to a wide range of government services and resources. It is positioned as the authoritative source for state government information, including services such as REAL ID applications, vehicle registration renewals, SNAP applications, and grant funding searches. The site targets Pennsylvania residents, government service users, and tourists, offering clear navigation and comprehensive content tailored to these audiences. The business model is that of a government service portal, focusing on public service delivery rather than commercial revenue generation. Technically, the site is built on Adobe Experience Manager, leveraging modern technologies such as Coveo for search, Google Tag Manager for analytics, and Google reCAPTCHA for security. The infrastructure demonstrates a mature digital presence with good mobile optimization, accessibility features, and SEO practices. The site integrates multiple third-party services for analytics, feedback, and translation, indicating a well-rounded technical ecosystem. From a security perspective, the site enforces HTTPS and employs security best practices including reCAPTCHA and a published security policy. While explicit security headers are not fully confirmed, the overall posture is strong with no visible vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data. Privacy compliance is addressed with a comprehensive privacy policy, though cookie consent mechanisms could be improved. The WHOIS data is incomplete but consistent with .gov domain privacy norms, and the site includes multiple trust indicators such as official social media links and government branding. Overall, www.pa.gov presents a professional, trustworthy, and secure government website with a strong focus on user accessibility and service delivery. Strategic recommendations include enhancing cookie consent transparency, publishing incident response contacts, and adding a vulnerability disclosure policy to further strengthen trust and compliance.

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

Technologies detected: Adobe Experience Manager, Coveo Search, Google Tag Manager, Google reCAPTCHA, LevelAccess Accessibility JS, Add-to-Calendar Button, Qualtrics Feedback, Google Translate.

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 pa.gov Safe? Security Analysis for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

https://pa.gov

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

GovernmentUnited Stateslarge
Adobe Experience ManagerCoveo SearchGoogle Tag ManagerGoogle reCAPTCHALevelAccess Accessibility JS+3 more
Analyzed 6/24/2025Completed 1:55:01 PM9mo ago
71
Security Score
MEDIUM RISK

Above Government avg (70)

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AI Summary

The website www.pa.gov serves as the official online portal for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing residents and visitors with access to a wide range of government services and resources. It is positioned as the authoritative source for state government information, including services such as REAL ID applications, vehicle registration renewals, SNAP applications, and grant funding searches. The site targets Pennsylvania residents, government service users, and tourists, offering clear navigation and comprehensive content tailored to these audiences. The business model is that of a government service portal, focusing on public service delivery rather than commercial revenue generation. Technically, the site is built on Adobe Experience Manager, leveraging modern technologies such as Coveo for search, Google Tag Manager for analytics, and Google reCAPTCHA for security. The infrastructure demonstrates a mature digital presence with good mobile optimization, accessibility features, and SEO practices. The site integrates multiple third-party services for analytics, feedback, and translation, indicating a well-rounded technical ecosystem. From a security perspective, the site enforces HTTPS and employs security best practices including reCAPTCHA and a published security policy. While explicit security headers are not fully confirmed, the overall posture is strong with no visible vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data. Privacy compliance is addressed with a comprehensive privacy policy, though cookie consent mechanisms could be improved. The WHOIS data is incomplete but consistent with .gov domain privacy norms, and the site includes multiple trust indicators such as official social media links and government branding. Overall, www.pa.gov presents a professional, trustworthy, and secure government website with a strong focus on user accessibility and service delivery. Strategic recommendations include enhancing cookie consent transparency, publishing incident response contacts, and adding a vulnerability disclosure policy to further strengthen trust and compliance.

Detected Technologies

Adobe Experience ManagerCoveo SearchGoogle Tag ManagerGoogle reCAPTCHALevelAccess Accessibility JSAdd-to-Calendar ButtonQualtrics FeedbackGoogle Translate

8 urgent findings need attention

8 high

Continuous monitoring

Keep pa.gov 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

3 findings

70/100

GDPR Compliance

4 findings

53/100

NIS2 Compliance

9 findings

2/100

Email Security

4 findings

80/100

🧠AI Business Intelligence

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

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's official website holds a strong market position as the primary digital gateway for state government services. Its competitive advantage lies in its comprehensive service listings, official status, and integration with multiple government agencies and partners. The business model is non-commercial, focusing on public service and information dissemination. Revenue streams are not applicable, but the site supports government transparency and citizen engagement. Target customers include Pennsylvania residents, businesses, and visitors seeking government services or information. Growth indicators include continuous content updates, integration of modern search and feedback tools, and partnerships with tourism and news organizations. The partnership ecosystem includes domains like visitpa.com and pacast.com, enhancing service breadth and user engagement. Operationally, the site demonstrates a mature digital strategy aligned with government mandates and citizen needs.

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

The security maturity of www.pa.gov is robust, reflecting best practices expected of a government portal. HTTPS is enforced site-wide, and Google reCAPTCHA is used to protect forms from abuse. The presence of a dedicated security policy page indicates organizational commitment to security governance. No exposed sensitive data or vulnerable libraries were detected in the HTML content. However, explicit security headers such as Content-Security-Policy and X-Frame-Options were not confirmed and should be verified. The site lacks publicly available incident response contact information and a vulnerability disclosure policy, which are important for transparency and rapid response to security issues. GDPR compliance is limited, likely due to the US government context, but privacy policies are comprehensive. Overall, the site demonstrates a strong security posture with room for improvement in transparency and header configurations.

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for Security Improvement

1

Publish explicit security headers including Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, and X-Content-Type-Options to enhance browser security.

Observations

AI-powered comprehensive website and business analysis.

AI-Enhanced Website Analysis

Business Insights

Company:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Description:

We're the home base of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Explore the services and resources offered by your government.

Key Services:
REAL ID applicationVehicle registration renewalSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicationGrant funding searchAgency directoryService listing
Content Quality:

excellent

Branding:

consistent

Technical Stack

Technologies:
Adobe Experience ManagerCoveo SearchGoogle Tag ManagerGoogle reCAPTCHALevelAccess Accessibility JSAdd-to-Calendar ButtonQualtrics FeedbackGoogle Translate
Frameworks:
Adobe Helix RUM
Platforms:
Cloud Coveo Platform
Performance:

moderate

Mobile:

good

Accessibility:

good

SEO:

good

Security Assessment

Security Score:
85/100
Best Practices:
  • HTTPS enforced
  • Use of Google reCAPTCHA
  • Security policy page available
  • No exposed sensitive data in HTML

Analytics & Tracking

Services:
Google Analytics (via Google Tag Manager)Adobe Helix RUM
Tracking Level:moderate
Privacy Compliance:basic

Advertising & Marketing

Marketing Tools:
Qualtrics Feedback
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 Pennsylvania government website with comprehensive service listings

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🛡️Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis and recommendations.

Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis

70/100
Score

Missing Content-Security-Policy header

HIGH

Controls resources the browser is allowed to load

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
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: energy, transport, health, digital

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📧Email Security

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

Email Security

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation

80/100
Score

Complex SPF record

LOW

Too many include statements can cause lookup limits

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 ip4:8.20.65.192/26 ip4:8.38.177.192/26 ip4:208.95.153.40 ip4:35.162.185.109 ip4:52.26.166.151 ip4:52.32.252.160 ip4:52.37.178.91 ip4:52.40.63.2 ip4:52.40.63.21 ip4:52.40.63.34 ip4:52.40.63.35 ip4:52.40.63.61 ip4:52.43.57.175 ip4:52.43.116.95 ip4:52.88.240.248 ip4:52.89.12.139 ip4:52.89.47.9 ip4:54.186.77.157 ip4:54.187.251.2 ip4:72.8.22.147 ip4:97.107.118.214 ip4:164.156.70.220/29 ip4:164.156.184.51 ip4:164.156.184.54 ip4:164.156.208.4 ip4:164.156.232.133/28 ip4:164.156.234.233/29 ip4:168.128.30.198 ip4:170.10.96.201 ip4:170.10.96.202 ip4:192.85.127.234/31 ip4:199.249.187.0/26 ip4:204.105.196.17 ip4:204.105.196.77 ip4:206.80.53.11 ip4:206.80.54.187 ip4:192.4.1.24/31 ip4:206.210.75.10 ip4:216.24.147.140 ip4:163.231.6.7 ip4:149.72.218.190 ip4:198.178.200.93 ip4:20.51.189.73 ip4:20.62.202.90 ip4:208.75.120.0/22 ip4:52.227.249.70 ip4:52.227.68.169 ip4:62.10.99.76 ip4:206.16.212.235 ip4:63.241.232.119 ip4:164.156.70.216/29 ip4:192.190.220.7 ip4:192.190.221.2 ip4:64.9.204.206 ip4:147.154.32.0/25 ip4:129.148.164.0/25 ip4:192.29.103.128/25 ip4:185.246.209.221 ip4:3.131.108.144 ip4:164.156.21.49 ip4:52.188.137.143 ip4:20.42.38.64 ip4:185.249.220.0/24 ip4:185.225.161.0/24 ip4:199.249.187.128/26 ip4:164.156.70.180 ip4:208.95.153.56 ip4:208.95.153.57 ip4:142.0.180.170 ip4:142.0.186.121 ip4:159.183.72.187 ip4:66.216.50.102 ip4:66.216.0.198 ip4:66.216.8.141 ip4:66.216.8.142 ip4:66.216.8.53 ip4:66.216.8.54 ip4:164.156.232.233/29 ip4:216.92.192.145 ip4:67.225.161.90 ip4:166.86.2.153 ip4:166.86.6.50 include:sid.listrak.com include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:servers.mcsv.net include:e2ma.net include:spfrecord.lexisnexisrisk.com include:zcsend.net include:email-od.com -all
DNS Lookups:7/10
Policy:-all
DKIM Selectors Found
Selector:k2(1416-bit rsa)
DMARC Details
Policy:quarantine
Subdomain Policy:quarantine
Aggregate Reports:f8debbc3@mxtoolbox.dmarc-report.com
Forensic Reports:f8debbc3@forensics.dmarc-report.com

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

95/100
Score

SSL Certificate Expires Within 90 Days

MEDIUM

SSL certificate expires in 51 days

Partial SSL/TLS Assessment

LOW

Completed 2 of 4 security checks due to time constraints

Certificate Details

Subject:www.pa.gov
Issuer:GeoTrust Global TLS RSA4096 SHA256 2022 CA1
Valid Until:8/14/2025 (51 days)
SANs:www.pa.gov

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
23 years(mature)
Expiry Risk
low(expired)
Protection Level
basicDNSSEC OFF
Suspicious Indicators Detected
  • Privacy/proxy registration detected

DNS Records

A Records:13.107.226.40, 13.107.213.40, 13.107.246.41, 13.107.253.40, 13.107.213.41, 13.107.246.40
Name Servers:
dns2.pa.gov
dns3.pa.gov
dns4.pa.gov
MX Records:
0: PA-GOV.mail.protection.outlook.com
SOA:Serial: 2025062204, TTL: 900s

DNSSEC Status

DNSSEC Not Enabled

DNS Performance

Resolution Time:65ms

SPF Analysis

SPF Record:
v=spf1 ip4:8.20.65.192/26 ip4:8.38.177.192/26 ip4:208.95.153.40 ip4:35.162.185.109 ip4:52.26.166.151 ip4:52.32.252.160 ip4:52.37.178.91 ip4:52.40.63.2 ip4:52.40.63.21 ip4:52.40.63.34 ip4:52.40.63.35 ip4:52.40.63.61 ip4:52.43.57.175 ip4:52.43.116.95 ip4:52.88.240.248 ip4:52.89.12.139 ip4:52.89.47.9 ip4:54.186.77.157 ip4:54.187.251.2 ip4:72.8.22.147 ip4:97.107.118.214 ip4:164.156.70.220/29 ip4:164.156.184.51 ip4:164.156.184.54 ip4:164.156.208.4 ip4:164.156.232.133/28 ip4:164.156.234.233/29 ip4:168.128.30.198 ip4:170.10.96.201 ip4:170.10.96.202 ip4:192.85.127.234/31 ip4:199.249.187.0/26 ip4:204.105.196.17 ip4:204.105.196.77 ip4:206.80.53.11 ip4:206.80.54.187 ip4:192.4.1.24/31 ip4:206.210.75.10 ip4:216.24.147.140 ip4:163.231.6.7 ip4:149.72.218.190 ip4:198.178.200.93 ip4:20.51.189.73 ip4:20.62.202.90 ip4:208.75.120.0/22 ip4:52.227.249.70 ip4:52.227.68.169 ip4:62.10.99.76 ip4:206.16.212.235 ip4:63.241.232.119 ip4:164.156.70.216/29 ip4:192.190.220.7 ip4:192.190.221.2 ip4:64.9.204.206 ip4:147.154.32.0/25 ip4:129.148.164.0/25 ip4:192.29.103.128/25 ip4:185.246.209.221 ip4:3.131.108.144 ip4:164.156.21.49 ip4:52.188.137.143 ip4:20.42.38.64 ip4:185.249.220.0/24 ip4:185.225.161.0/24 ip4:199.249.187.128/26 ip4:164.156.70.180 ip4:208.95.153.56 ip4:208.95.153.57 ip4:142.0.180.170 ip4:142.0.186.121 ip4:159.183.72.187 ip4:66.216.50.102 ip4:66.216.0.198 ip4:66.216.8.141 ip4:66.216.8.142 ip4:66.216.8.53 ip4:66.216.8.54 ip4:164.156.232.233/29 ip4:216.92.192.145 ip4:67.225.161.90 ip4:166.86.2.153 ip4:166.86.6.50 include:sid.listrak.com include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:servers.mcsv.net include:e2ma.net include:spfrecord.lexisnexisrisk.com include:zcsend.net include:email-od.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 pa.gov compare?

See how pa.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 leverages Adobe Experience Manager as its CMS, integrating advanced search capabilities via Coveo and analytics through Google Tag Manager and Adobe Helix RUM. The use of Google reCAPTCHA enhances form security. The site is well-structured with responsive design and accessibility considerations, including skip links and ARIA attributes. Performance is moderate, with asynchronous loading of scripts and use of CDNs for static assets. The technical stack is modern and appropriate for a large government portal, though hosting provider details are not explicit. Opportunities exist to optimize performance further and ensure all security headers are properly configured. The integration of multiple third-party services is well managed, but continuous monitoring is recommended to mitigate supply chain risks.
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PDF Report & Export

PDF download, email delivery, unlock code

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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

Domainpa.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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