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Is search.gov a Scam? Security Check Results - General Services Administration (GSA) Technology Transformation Services

search.gov Security Report Summary

search.gov received a security score of 67 out of 100 in Guard's comprehensive security analysis, classified as "Moderate Risk". This report covers General Services Administration (GSA) Technology Transformation Services's website security posture. General Services Administration (GSA) Technology Transformation Services operates in the Government industry in United States.

Search.gov is an official U.S. government service operated under the General Services Administration's Technology Transformation Services. It provides a specialized search engine solution tailored for federal government websites, powering search results on over 2,000 sites. The service is designed to be secure, compliant, and highly configurable without requiring developer intervention, targeting federal agencies and their web administrators. The website reflects a strong government affiliation with consistent branding and clear communication of its mission and services. Technically, the site leverages modern web technologies including the U.S. Web Design System, Jekyll static site generation, and AWS DNS hosting. It integrates Google Tag Manager and the Digital Analytics Program for analytics, ensuring good performance, mobile optimization, and accessibility. The site is well-structured with comprehensive metadata, SEO optimization, and clear navigation, reflecting a mature digital infrastructure. From a security perspective, the site enforces HTTPS and uses a .gov domain, which are strong trust indicators. However, DNSSEC is not enabled, and no explicit security headers were detected in the provided data. There is no visible security policy or incident response information published, which could be improved. No vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data were found. Privacy compliance is good with a clear privacy policy, though no cookie consent mechanism is present. Overall, Search.gov demonstrates a high level of professionalism, trustworthiness, and technical maturity appropriate for a government service. Strategic recommendations include enabling DNSSEC, publishing security and incident response policies, and implementing a cookie consent mechanism to enhance privacy compliance and security posture.

The security scan identified 29 findings across security headers, SSL/TLS, DNS health, email security, GDPR compliance, and NIS2 compliance analysis modules.

Technologies detected: Google Tag Manager, Digital Analytics Program (DAP), Jekyll (static site generator), AWS DNS hosting.

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 search.gov Safe? Security Analysis for General Services Administration (GSA) Technology Transformation Services

https://search.gov

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

GovernmentUnited Statesenterprise
Google Tag ManagerDigital Analytics Program (DAP)Jekyll (static site generator)AWS DNS hosting
Analyzed 7/29/2025Completed 8:10:57 AM8mo ago
67
Security Score
MEDIUM RISK

Below Government avg (70)

10,000+

Domains scanned

500+

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AI Summary

Search.gov is an official U.S. government service operated under the General Services Administration's Technology Transformation Services. It provides a specialized search engine solution tailored for federal government websites, powering search results on over 2,000 sites. The service is designed to be secure, compliant, and highly configurable without requiring developer intervention, targeting federal agencies and their web administrators. The website reflects a strong government affiliation with consistent branding and clear communication of its mission and services. Technically, the site leverages modern web technologies including the U.S. Web Design System, Jekyll static site generation, and AWS DNS hosting. It integrates Google Tag Manager and the Digital Analytics Program for analytics, ensuring good performance, mobile optimization, and accessibility. The site is well-structured with comprehensive metadata, SEO optimization, and clear navigation, reflecting a mature digital infrastructure. From a security perspective, the site enforces HTTPS and uses a .gov domain, which are strong trust indicators. However, DNSSEC is not enabled, and no explicit security headers were detected in the provided data. There is no visible security policy or incident response information published, which could be improved. No vulnerabilities or exposed sensitive data were found. Privacy compliance is good with a clear privacy policy, though no cookie consent mechanism is present. Overall, Search.gov demonstrates a high level of professionalism, trustworthiness, and technical maturity appropriate for a government service. Strategic recommendations include enabling DNSSEC, publishing security and incident response policies, and implementing a cookie consent mechanism to enhance privacy compliance and security posture.

Detected Technologies

Google Tag ManagerDigital Analytics Program (DAP)Jekyll (static site generator)AWS DNS hosting

8 urgent findings need attention

8 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

5 findings

55/100

GDPR Compliance

4 findings

53/100

NIS2 Compliance

9 findings

2/100

Email Security

4 findings

70/100

🧠AI Business Intelligence

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

Business Intelligence

Market & Strategic Analysis

Search.gov occupies a strong position as the primary federal government search engine service, serving a large number of government websites. Its business model is service-oriented, providing free search infrastructure and support to federal agencies. The service benefits from the backing of the GSA, ensuring stability and trust. The target customers are federal agencies needing reliable search capabilities. The partnership ecosystem includes other government shared services such as Cloud.gov, Login.gov, and Digital Analytics Program. The site’s growth is indicated by its extensive adoption and continuous updates. The lack of commercial advertising and affiliate programs aligns with its government service nature.

Security Posture Analysis

Comprehensive Security Assessment

The security posture of Search.gov is solid with mandatory HTTPS and official .gov domain usage. The absence of DNSSEC is a minor gap in DNS security. No security headers were detected, which could improve protection against common web attacks. The site does not expose sensitive data or vulnerable libraries. However, the lack of published security policies and incident response contacts limits transparency and preparedness visibility. Privacy compliance is good but could be enhanced with explicit cookie consent mechanisms. Overall, the site reflects a mature security culture typical of government services but has room for improvement in formal security documentation and DNS hardening.

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for Security Improvement

1

Enable DNSSEC to strengthen DNS security and prevent spoofing.

Observations

AI-powered comprehensive website and business analysis.

AI-Enhanced Website Analysis

Business Insights

Company:

General Services Administration (GSA) Technology Transformation Services

Description:

Search.gov powers thousands of federal government search boxes. Use it to improve the public’s search experience on your agency’s site.

Key Services:
Search engine hosting and indexing for government websitesSearch analytics and managementTraining and resources for site indexing and search optimization
Content Quality:

excellent

Branding:

consistent

Technical Stack

Technologies:
Google Tag ManagerDigital Analytics Program (DAP)Jekyll (static site generator)AWS DNS hosting
Frameworks:
U.S. Web Design System (USWDS)
Performance:

fast

Mobile:

excellent

Accessibility:

excellent

SEO:

excellent

Security Assessment

Security Score:
90/100
Best Practices:
  • HTTPS enforced
  • Use of .gov domain indicating official government site
  • No exposed sensitive data in HTML
  • Secure forms with proper input types

Analytics & Tracking

Services:
Digital Analytics Program (DAP)Google Tag Manager
Tracking Level:minimal
Privacy Compliance:good

Advertising & Marketing

Tracking Pixels:
Digital Analytics Program
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 U.S. government website with .gov domain

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🛡️Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis and recommendations.

Security Headers

HTTP security headers analysis

55/100
Score

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

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
emailphone

🛡️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, digital

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📧Email Security

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

Email Security

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation

70/100
Score

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:amazonses.com include:mail.zendesk.com include:_spf.google.com -all
DNS Lookups:3/10
Policy:-all
DMARC Details
Policy:reject
Aggregate Reports:dmarcreports@gsa.gov
Forensic Reports:dmarcfailures@gsa.gov

🏆SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis.

SSL/TLS Security

Certificate validity and encryption analysis

85/100
Score

SSL Certificate Expires Within 90 Days

MEDIUM

SSL certificate expires in 41 days

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:search.gov
Issuer:R10
Valid Until:9/8/2025 (41 days)
SANs:search.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
7 years(mature)
Expiry Risk
medium(expired)
Protection Level
basicDNSSEC OFF
Suspicious Indicators Detected
  • Privacy/proxy registration detected

DNS Records

A Records:3.164.68.101, 3.164.68.104, 3.164.68.28, 3.164.68.69
AAAA Records:2600:9000:278c:2e00:3:43b0:9e40:93a1, 2600:9000:278c:a400:3:43b0:9e40:93a1, 2600:9000:278c:6800:3:43b0:9e40:93a1, 2600:9000:278c:a800:3:43b0:9e40:93a1, 2600:9000:278c:ac00:3:43b0:9e40:93a1, 2600:9000:278c:1400:3:43b0:9e40:93a1, 2600:9000:278c:e800:3:43b0:9e40:93a1, 2600:9000:278c:7c00:3:43b0:9e40:93a1
Name Servers:
ns-1519.awsdns-61.org
ns-1683.awsdns-18.co.uk
ns-351.awsdns-43.com
ns-876.awsdns-45.net
MX Records:
10: inbound-smtp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
SOA:Serial: 1, TTL: 86400s

DNSSEC Status

DNSSEC Not Enabled

DNS Performance

Resolution Time:63ms

SPF Analysis

SPF Record:
v=spf1 include:amazonses.com include:mail.zendesk.com include:_spf.google.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 search.gov compare?

See how search.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 is built using the Jekyll static site generator and styled with the U.S. Web Design System, ensuring compliance with government accessibility and design standards. Hosting uses AWS DNS services with multiple authoritative name servers. The site integrates Google Tag Manager and the Digital Analytics Program for analytics tracking. Performance is fast with mobile optimization and accessibility features well implemented. SEO is strong with comprehensive meta tags, Open Graph data, and JSON-LD structured data. No CMS vulnerabilities or outdated libraries were detected. The technical infrastructure is modern and well maintained, supporting a reliable and user-friendly experience.
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

Domainsearch.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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