Skip to main content

Is research-in-germany.org a Scam? Security Check Results - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. (DAAD) Reviews

research-in-germany.org favicon

Is research-in-germany.org Safe? Security Analysis for Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. (DAAD)

Check if research-in-germany.org is a scam or legitimate. Free security scan and reviews.

GovernmentGermanylarge
HTML5CSSJavaScriptGoogle Tag ManagerGoogle Analytics+1 more
Analyzed 9/5/2025Completed 8:15:06 PM
60
Security Score
MEDIUM RISK

AI Summary

Research in Germany is an official information platform operated by the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. (DAAD), aimed at international researchers seeking PhD, postdoc, and advanced research opportunities in Germany. The website provides comprehensive guidance on the German research landscape, funding, job portals, and practical advice for planning a stay in Germany. It is well-positioned as a trusted government-backed resource with a clear focus on academic and research sectors. Technically, the website employs modern web technologies including Alpine.js for interactivity, Google Tag Manager and Analytics for user behavior tracking with explicit consent, and a Microsoft-powered chatbot for user assistance. The site is mobile-optimized, accessible, and SEO-friendly, reflecting a mature digital infrastructure. From a security perspective, the site enforces HTTPS, uses CSRF tokens for form security, and implements GDPR-compliant cookie consent mechanisms. Data transfers to third countries (e.g., USA for Microsoft and Google services) are managed with standard contractual clauses. No critical vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data were detected. However, explicit security headers like X-Frame-Options were not confirmed in the HTML. Overall, the website demonstrates a strong security posture, excellent content quality, and good privacy compliance. The incomplete WHOIS data is a minor concern but likely due to registry query issues rather than malicious intent. Strategic recommendations include enhancing security header implementation, publishing a security.txt for vulnerability disclosure, and maintaining regular audits of third-party integrations.

Detected Technologies

HTML5CSSJavaScriptGoogle Tag ManagerGoogle AnalyticsMicrosoft Bot Framework (chatbot)

🧠AI Business Intelligence

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

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

Research in Germany operates as a government-affiliated platform under DAAD, targeting international academic researchers. Its competitive advantage lies in official backing, comprehensive content, and multilingual support. The business model is informational and service-oriented, funded by public resources rather than direct revenue. The platform supports growth in international research collaboration and mobility, leveraging partnerships with German federal ministries and research institutions. The ecosystem includes funding organizations, universities, and research bodies, positioning it as a central hub for research-related information in Germany.

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

The website exhibits a mature security posture with enforced HTTPS, GDPR-compliant cookie consent, and CSRF protection for forms. Use of reputable third-party services like Google Analytics and Microsoft Bot Framework is managed with appropriate user consent and data protection clauses. No critical security issues or vulnerabilities were identified in the analyzed content. The absence of explicit security headers in the HTML suggests room for improvement. Incident response and vulnerability disclosure mechanisms are not publicly evident, which could be enhanced to improve transparency and readiness.

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for Security Improvement

1

Implement and verify security headers such as X-Frame-Options and X-Content-Type-Options to strengthen browser security.

Observations

AI-powered comprehensive website and business analysis.

AI-Enhanced Website Analysis

Business Insights

Company:

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. (DAAD)

Description:

The website helps you to find your way to Germany, to seek for PhD positions, research jobs or funding opportunities.

Key Services:
Information on research landscape in GermanyGuidance for PhD, postdoc, advanced research careersFunding and job search resourcesOn-site consultation and publicationsNewsletter and events
Content Quality:

excellent

Branding:

consistent

Technical Stack

Technologies:
HTML5CSSJavaScriptGoogle Tag ManagerGoogle AnalyticsMicrosoft Bot Framework (chatbot)
Frameworks:
Alpine.js (x-data, x-bind directives)Snoop Cookie Consent library
Performance:

moderate

Mobile:

good

Accessibility:

good

SEO:

good

Security Assessment

Security Score:
85/100
Best Practices:
  • HTTPS enforced
  • Cookie consent with GDPR compliance
  • CSRF cookie for form security
  • No exposed sensitive data in HTML
  • Chatbot data processing with standard contractual clauses for US data transfer

Analytics & Tracking

Services:
Google Analytics
Tracking Level:moderate
Privacy Compliance:good

Advertising & Marketing

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 fully accessible with rich content and navigation

🛡️Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis and recommendations.

Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis

0/100
Score
Analysis failed - content could not be retrieved

👤GDPR Compliance

Privacy and data protection assessment under GDPR regulations.

GDPR Compliance

Privacy and data protection assessment

95/100
Score

No Data Protection Officer mentioned

LOW

Large organizations may need to designate a DPO under GDPR

GDPR Compliance Analysis

Privacy Policy85% confidence
Cookie Policy85% confidence
Contact Information Found90% confidence
phone

🛡️NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive compliance assessment.

NIS2 Compliance

Network & Information Security Directive

17/100
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

📧Email Security

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

Email Security

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation

52/100
Score

No DMARC record found

HIGH

DMARC provides email authentication and reporting

No DKIM record found

MEDIUM

DKIM adds cryptographic signatures to emails

No 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 mx a ip4:134.119.36.61 include:ispgateway.de include:spf.crsend.com -all
DNS Lookups:4/10
Policy:-all
DMARC Details
Policy:none

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

42/100
Score

Weak Protocols Supported

HIGH

Server supports weak protocols: TLSv1.1

OCSP Stapling Not Enabled

LOW

OCSP stapling improves performance and privacy

Certificate Transparency Not Implemented

LOW

Certificate is not logged in Certificate Transparency logs

SSL Certificate Expires Soon

HIGH

SSL certificate expires in 28 days

Weak SSL Key Length

HIGH

SSL certificate uses 384-bit key, which is considered weak

Partial SSL/TLS Assessment

LOW

Completed 3 of 4 security checks due to time constraints

Protocol Support

TLSv1.3TLSv1.2TLSv1.1

OCSP Status

OCSP Stapling Disabled

📊DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment.

DNS Health

DNS configuration and security assessment

85/100
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 Registration Details

Domain Age
19 years(mature)
Expiry Risk
low(288 days)
Protection Level
strongDNSSEC OFF

DNS Records

A Records:185.158.226.254
Name Servers:
ns59.domaincontrol.com
ns60.domaincontrol.com
MX Records:
100: mxlb.ispgateway.de

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

🔧Technical Analysis

Detailed technical findings and analysis from AI assessment.

Technical Analysis

Comprehensive security assessment findings

Additional Findings

The website uses a modern tech stack with HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and Alpine.js for dynamic UI components. It integrates Google Tag Manager and Analytics for tracking, with user consent mechanisms in place. The chatbot functionality is powered by Microsoft services, with data transfers governed by GDPR-compliant clauses. The site is mobile-optimized and accessible, with good SEO practices including meta tags and structured navigation. Performance is moderate, with potential for optimization in loading speed. No CMS was explicitly detected, suggesting a custom or static site architecture.
Analyze Another Website