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WDH-074 Websites, Domains & Internet Infrastructure

Websites, Domains & Internet InfrastructureWDH-074

How can I tell which infrastructure served a website at a particular time?

Reconstruct the service chain for the exact date and time. A current lookup proves only the present arrangement.

Evidence to consider

  • historic DNS and IP addresses;
  • nameserver history;
  • certificate records;
  • CDN or reverse-proxy configuration;
  • hosting or cloud assignments;
  • platform history;
  • dynamic-DNS or tunnel records.

Interpret the result carefully

Technical records may identify a service, account, device or request rather than the person responsible. Preserve exact dates, times and time zones, and test shared access, automation, compromise and changing infrastructure where relevant.

Key takeaway

Build a dated evidence chain showing provider, intermediary, origin or customer account and the source for each conclusion.

Keep moving

Where this question leads

These links explain why the next page may matter, rather than presenting an undifferentiated list.