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Is quad9.net a Scam? Security Check Results - Quad9 Foundation

quad9.net Security Report Summary

quad9.net received a security score of 53 out of 100 in Guard's comprehensive security analysis, classified as "Elevated Risk". This report covers Quad9 Foundation's website security posture. Quad9 Foundation operates in the Technology industry in Switzerland.

Quad9 Foundation operates a globally recognized public DNS recursive service focused on enhancing Internet security and privacy by blocking malicious domains. The organization is a not-for-profit entity based in Switzerland, leveraging partnerships with major industry players such as IBM and the Global Cyber Alliance. Their service is widely used, with resolver clusters in over 110 countries and millions of daily blocks, positioning them as a key player in the DNS security space. Technically, the website is built using the Hugo static site generator and employs modern web technologies with good mobile optimization and accessibility. However, performance is hindered by slow load times and a high number of resources. The DNS configuration is robust with SPF records but lacks DNSSEC and DMARC, and critically, the SSL/TLS configuration is invalid or missing, exposing the site to security risks. From a security perspective, Quad9 demonstrates strong privacy commitments and transparency, including GDPR compliance and no logging of IP addresses. Despite this, the absence of HTTPS and security headers significantly lowers the security posture. No incident response or vulnerability disclosure policies are publicly evident, which could be improved to enhance trust. Overall, Quad9 presents a trustworthy and professional service with excellent content quality and business credibility. The main risk lies in the missing SSL certificate and related security configurations, which should be addressed promptly to protect users and maintain trust.

The security scan identified 24 findings across security headers, SSL/TLS, DNS health, email security, GDPR compliance, and NIS2 compliance analysis modules.

Technologies detected: Hugo static site generator, JavaScript, CSS.

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 quad9.net Safe? Security Analysis for Quad9 Foundation

https://quad9.net

Check if quad9.net is a scam or legitimate. Free security scan and reviews.

TechnologySwitzerlandmedium
Hugo static site generatorJavaScriptCSS
Analyzed 6/14/2025Completed 9:53:31 PM9mo ago
53
Security Score
MEDIUM RISK

Below Technology avg (72)

10,000+

Domains scanned

500+

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SEQ SIA

Lastadijas 12 k-3, Riga, Latvia, LV-1050

Reg. No. 40203410806 • VAT LV40203410806

Support: guard@offseq.com+371 2256 5353

AI Summary

Quad9 Foundation operates a globally recognized public DNS recursive service focused on enhancing Internet security and privacy by blocking malicious domains. The organization is a not-for-profit entity based in Switzerland, leveraging partnerships with major industry players such as IBM and the Global Cyber Alliance. Their service is widely used, with resolver clusters in over 110 countries and millions of daily blocks, positioning them as a key player in the DNS security space. Technically, the website is built using the Hugo static site generator and employs modern web technologies with good mobile optimization and accessibility. However, performance is hindered by slow load times and a high number of resources. The DNS configuration is robust with SPF records but lacks DNSSEC and DMARC, and critically, the SSL/TLS configuration is invalid or missing, exposing the site to security risks. From a security perspective, Quad9 demonstrates strong privacy commitments and transparency, including GDPR compliance and no logging of IP addresses. Despite this, the absence of HTTPS and security headers significantly lowers the security posture. No incident response or vulnerability disclosure policies are publicly evident, which could be improved to enhance trust. Overall, Quad9 presents a trustworthy and professional service with excellent content quality and business credibility. The main risk lies in the missing SSL certificate and related security configurations, which should be addressed promptly to protect users and maintain trust.

Detected Technologies

Hugo static site generatorJavaScriptCSS

6 urgent findings need attention

6 high

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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

7 findings

30/100

GDPR Compliance

5 findings

43/100

NIS2 Compliance

6 findings

47/100

Email Security

1 finding

50/100

🧠AI Business Intelligence

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

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

Quad9 operates as a not-for-profit foundation providing a free DNS service that blocks malicious domains to protect users worldwide. Their business model relies on grants, partnerships, and donations rather than commercial revenue. The organization targets privacy-conscious individuals, enterprises, and network operators globally. Their market position is strong due to their privacy-first approach, global presence, and partnerships with reputable organizations. The foundation's transparency, testimonials, and sponsorships enhance its credibility. Growth indicators include a large user base and extensive resolver infrastructure. Strategic partnerships with IBM, Global Cyber Alliance, and PCH strengthen their ecosystem and operational capabilities.

Extracted Contact Information

Marketing Intelligence Data

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

Quad9 exhibits a moderate security maturity level with a strong focus on privacy and threat blocking. The lack of a valid SSL certificate and HTTPS support is a critical vulnerability that undermines user trust and data security. The absence of security headers and DMARC records further weakens their security posture. While DNS SPF is configured correctly, DNSSEC is not enabled, which could improve DNS integrity. No public incident response or vulnerability disclosure policies were found, indicating potential gaps in security governance. The organization's GDPR compliance and privacy-first charter are positive indicators, but technical security improvements are urgently needed.

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for Security Improvement

1

Obtain and deploy a valid SSL/TLS certificate to enable HTTPS across the entire website.

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🛡️Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis and recommendations.

Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis

30/100
Score

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

43/100
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

Insufficient contact information

MEDIUM

GDPR requires organizations to provide clear contact details

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 Policy80% confidence
Cookie Policy0% confidence

🛡️NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive compliance assessment.

NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive

47/100
Score

No vulnerability disclosure policy

MEDIUM

NIS2 encourages coordinated vulnerability disclosure

Software version information exposed

MEDIUM

Server headers reveal software versions which could aid attackers

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

50/100
Score

Email Security Check Incomplete

MEDIUM

Some email security checks timed out

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

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

50/100
Score

SSL/TLS Check Incomplete

MEDIUM

Some SSL/TLS checks timed out

OCSP Status

OCSP Stapling Disabled

📊DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment.

DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment

75/100
Score

DNSSEC Not Enabled

MEDIUM

DNSSEC is not configured for this domain

CAA Records Not Configured

LOW

Certificate Authority Authorization (CAA) records not found

No DMARC Record

MEDIUM

DMARC policy not configured

DNS Records

A Records:195.176.255.138
AAAA Records:2001:620:2020:5:9::138
Name Servers:
anyns.pch.netDNS only
ns2.pch.netDNS only
ns3.pch.netDNS only
MX Records:
10: mx4.quad9.net
20: mx2.quad9.net
5: mx1.quad9.net

DNSSEC Status

DNSSEC Not Enabled

SPF Analysis

SPF Record:
v=spf1 a mx include:_spf.quad9.net include:mail.zendesk.com include:servers.mcsv.net include:stspg-customer.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 quad9.net compare?

See how quad9.net 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 using the Hugo static site generator, indicating a modern and maintainable infrastructure. The tech stack includes standard web technologies such as JavaScript and CSS. Hosting appears to be provided by PCH, a reputable network operator. Despite modern technologies, the site suffers from slow load times and a high number of resources, suggesting optimization opportunities. Mobile optimization and accessibility are good, supporting a wide user base. The lack of HTTPS and security headers represents a significant technical debt and risk. DNS configuration is partially robust with SPF but lacks DNSSEC and DMARC, which are recommended for enhanced email and DNS security.
Professional PDF & Marketing Data

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PDF Report & Export

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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

Domainquad9.net
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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