WhoisXML API Blog

Threat Intelligence Feeds: a Getting Started Guide

Despite actively improving cybersecurity defenses, the cost of cybercrime only continues to grow. Statista draws a steadily ascending graph, predicting that the global cost of cybercrime will go up more than a trillion $USD in 2025 – to $USD 10.29 trillion from 9.22 trillion in 2024. And it will continue the same way in 2026, 2027, and further on.

To avoid contributing to this growing number, organizations are switching toward proactive and even predictive cybersecurity – that is one of the main 2025 cybersecurity trends. Cybersecurity automation is another trend that has gained significant momentum. In their 2024 research, Wakefield Research concluded that 80% of organizations planned to increase their investment in cybersecurity automation. 

There’s an intersection between these trends – an area of cybersecurity that belongs to both and is critically important in 2025: cyber threat intelligence feeds. This guide provides you everything you need to know about them.

WhoisXML API Data Is Now Available on Core4ce’s Cyberscape

WhoisXML API is proud to announce a new integration with Core4ce, a data-minded company that serves as a trusted partner to the U.S. national security community.

This new partnership brings WhoisXML API’s comprehensive domain, DNS, IP, and Internet intelligence repositories to Core4ce’s Cyberscape, a cloud-based platform that enables security analysts to visualize threats, collaborate across teams, document intelligence for key stakeholders, and share reports with industry partners and government agencies in one workspace.

“Core4ce’s goal to streamline cyber threat investigation through rapid data integration supports our vision of a safer Internet, where relevant, high-quality intelligence is readily accessible to those on the front lines of cybersecurity,” says Jonathan Zhang, WhoisXML API CEO.

January 2025: Domain Activity Highlights

The WhoisXML API research team analyzed 7.6+ million domains registered between 1 and 31 January 2025 to identify the most popular registrars, top-level domain (TLD) extensions, and other global domain registration trends.

We also determined the top TLD extensions used by 61.2+ billion domains from our DNS database’s A record full file released in the same month.

Finally, we summed up our findings and provided links to the threat reports produced using DNS, IP, and domain intelligence sources during the period.

Cybersecurity in 2025 and Beyond: Top Predictions

Change is the only constant in this world, and cybersecurity is no exception to that rule. While no one can know for sure what will happen in 2025 and the years to come, one thing is certain: organizations must adapt to new cybersecurity trends to keep pace with peers and adversaries alike.

For one, organizations will need to employ a proactive and integrated approach to cybersecurity this year due to the forecasted growth of high-impact artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled threats. While this strategy has been peeking around the corner in the past few years, it will take the frontline in 2025.

WhoisXML API presents this and other cybersecurity predictions, covering both emerging cyber threats and the strategies required to address them, to help organizations prepare for future challenges.

ICANN's WHOIS Port 43 Shutdown: What It Means for You

Written by Ching Chiao, Head of APAC and Global Data Partnership & Alexandre François, Product Marketing Director
WhoisXML API

On January 28, 2025, ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) will officially sunset the WHOIS Port 43 services. This decision marks a pivotal moment for the cybersecurity industry, domain registries, and anyone who relies on domain data for operational or investigative purposes. But what does this change mean, and how will it impact the broader ecosystem?

First Watch Meets Web Categorization: Predictive Exploratory Insights on Malicious Domains

Author: Ed Gibbs
Editor: Alexandre François

Abstract

Domain categorization is an essential component of cybersecurity, enabling businesses and security solutions to identify and mitigate threats at the network level. Certain categories are especially relevant for flagging confirmed malicious websites, which may be hosted on domain names that First Watch Malicious Domains Data Feed can detect even before they are weaponized.

The feed leverages deep learning and proprietary techniques to identify suspicious domains at the time of registration. Its threat prevention effectiveness is continually assessed, offering users assurance when deciding whether to preemptively block or closely monitor the domains listed in the feed’s files.

In our latest analysis, we explored a dataset of 477,082 domains collected from the feed, using a reputable web categorization service provided by a renowned cybersecurity organization to classify them. Of these, 50,436 domains were successfully categorized, with notable classifications such as malicious (5,219), pornography (2,843), gambling (1,725), and phishing (366). This study applies advanced statistical methods to identify patterns, highlight potential biases in detection, and propose areas for improving categorization algorithms.

December 2024: Domain Activity Highlights

The WhoisXML API research team analyzed 7.9+ million domains registered between 1 and 31 December 2024 to identify the most popular registrars, top-level domain (TLD) extensions, and other global domain registration trends.

We also determined the top TLD extensions used by 60.1+ billion domains from our DNS database’s A record full file released in the same month.

Next, we studied the top TLDs of 1.3+ million domains detected as indicators of compromise (IoCs) in December.

Finally, we summed up our findings and provided links to the threat reports produced using DNS, IP, and domain intelligence sources during the period.

November 2024: Domain Activity Highlights

The WhoisXML API research team analyzed 8.2 million domains registered between 1 and 30 November 2024 to identify the most popular registrars, top-level domain (TLD) extensions, and other global domain registration trends.

We also determined the top TLD extensions used by 59.6 billion domains from our DNS database’s A record full file released in the same month.

Next, we studied the top TLDs of 1.1 million domains detected as indicators of compromise (IoCs) in November.

Finally, we summed up our findings and provided links to the threat reports produced using DNS, IP, and domain intelligence sources during the period.