This article outlines the steps for investigating incidents where an inactive or unused domain is reported to be linked with suspicious or unintended IP activity, such as increased server load, email spoofing, or service disruption. In this guide, we’ll explore potential causes, verification methods, and solutions to prevent and resolve such occurrences.
Overview
When domains are reported to be linked to unexpected activities—such as traffic from specific IP addresses—it’s crucial to determine whether the activity is legitimate, a misconfiguration, or a result of unauthorized use (e.g., email spoofing or IP hijacking). Here’s how to investigate and address these issues.
Step-by-Step Investigation Process
1. Verify DNS, WHOIS, and Domain Status
- Check Domain Status: Use WHOIS lookup tools to confirm the registration and ownership details of the domain in question (e.g.,
abc.in). - DNS and MX Record Verification: Confirm that no DNS or MX records are actively pointing to any services if the domain is supposed to be inactive. This helps verify whether the domain is being used unintentionally.
2. Identify Potential Email Spoofing
- SPF/DKIM/DMARC Record Check: Review the domain’s DNS records to confirm that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations are in place. These records prevent unauthorized parties from sending emails that appear to originate from your domain.
- Set DMARC Policy: If not configured, create a DMARC record with a “reject” policy to prevent spoofed emails from being delivered.
3. Analyze IP Addresses Linked to Activity
- Use IP Lookup Tools: Identify the geographical location and ISP of the reported IP addresses using public IP lookup tools (e.g., IPinfo, AbuseIPDB). Determine if they match historical IP addresses associated with your domain or past services.
- Check for Blacklisting: Use security tools to verify if the domain or IP addresses have been flagged on spam or security blacklists.
4. Respond to Reporting Party
- Prepare a Response: Communicate with the party that reported the activity. Confirm that the domain is inactive, and ask for specific logs (e.g., timestamped connection records) to help with further investigation.
- Request Evidence of Activity: If necessary, request any logs or additional data that might confirm the connection between the domain and the flagged IPs.
5. Prevention and Monitoring
- Disable Unused Records: Ensure that any DNS, MX, or A records for inactive domains are removed or disabled to prevent unintended use.
- Implement Monitoring: For domains previously active, set up basic monitoring to detect any DNS changes, email spoofing, or unauthorized usage. This can include email alerts for DMARC failures or monitoring services to track DNS updates.
Additional Resources
For further information on SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration:
- SPF Setup Guide
- Understanding DKIM and DMARC
- WHOIS Lookup Tools
By following these steps, domain owners can prevent and respond to issues involving inactive domains, misattributed IP activity, and unauthorized domain usage effectively.