Systems and methods for discovery of brand-registered domain names

Taking a zero-configuration approach, a domain name discovery system utilizes, in an iterative process, WHOIS data and infrastructure data for a seed domain to automatically discover domain names having registration and/or infrastructure details that match those of the seed domain. Registration information such as a registered email address associated with a domain name discovered through WHOIS data matching or infrastructure data matching is utilized in a reverse lookup for domain names having infrastructure or WHOIS registered information that fully matches the information associated with the domain name discovered through the iterative process. Domain names discovered through WHOIS data matching, infrastructure data matching, and reverse lookup can be presented through a user interface on a client device communicatively connected to the domain name discovery system over a network. The domain name discovery can be performed periodically or in near real time responsive to receiving a new ...

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISCOVERY OF BRAND-REGISTERED DOMAIN NAMES

Taking a zero-configuration approach, a domain name discovery system utilizes, in an iterative process, WHOIS data and infrastructure data for a seed domain to automatically discover domain names having registration and/or infrastructure details that match those of the seed domain. Registration information such as a registered email address associated with a domain name discovered through WHOIS data matching or infrastructure data matching is utilized in a reverse lookup for domain names having infrastructure or WHOIS registered information that fully matches the information associated with the domain name discovered through the iterative process. Domain names discovered through WHOIS data matching, infrastructure data matching, and reverse lookup can be presented through a user interface on a client device communicatively connected to the domain name discovery system over a network. The domain name discovery can be performed periodically or in near real time responsive to receiving a new ...

THREAT ACTOR IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

A threat actor identification system that obtains domain data for a set of domains, generates domain clusters, determines whether the domain clusters are associated with threat actors, and presents domain data for the clusters that are associated with threat actors to brand owners that are associated with the threat actors. The clusters may be generated based on similarities in web page content, domain registration information, and/or domain infrastructure information. For each cluster, a clustering engine determines whether the cluster is associated with a threat actor, and for clusters that are associated with threat actors, corresponding domain information is stored for presentation to brand owners to whom the threat actor poses a threat.

THREAT ACTOR IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

A threat actor identification system that obtains domain data for a set of domains, generates domain clusters, determines whether the domain clusters are associated with threat actors, and presents domain data for the clusters that are associated with threat actors to brand owners that are associated with the threat actors. The clusters may be generated based on similarities in web page content, domain registration information, and/or domain infrastructure information. For each cluster, a clustering engine determines whether the cluster is associated with a threat actor, and for clusters that are associated with threat actors, corresponding domain information is stored for presentation to brand owners to whom the threat actor poses a threat.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISCOVERY OF BRAND-REGISTERED DOMAIN NAMES

Taking a zero-configuration approach, a domain name discovery system utilizes, in an iterative process, WHOIS data and infrastructure data for a seed domain to automatically discover domain names having registration and/or infrastructure details that match those of the seed domain. Registration information such as a registered email address associated with a domain name discovered through WHOIS data matching or infrastructure data matching is utilized in a reverse lookup for domain names having infrastructure or WHOIS registered information that fully matches the information associated with the domain name discovered through the iterative process. Domain names discovered through WHOIS data matching, infrastructure data matching, and reverse lookup can be presented through a user interface on a client device communicatively connected to the domain name discovery system over a network. The domain name discovery can be performed periodically or in near real time responsive to receiving a new seed domain. 1. A method for domain name discovery , comprising:obtaining WHOIS data and infrastructure data for a seed domain, the obtaining performed by a domain name discovery server computer, the WHOIS data containing domain name registration information for the seed domain;determining, by the domain name discovery server computer, whether the domain name registration information for the seed domain is private;responsive to the domain name registration information for the seed domain being private, performing an infrastructure data matching procedure utilizing the infrastructure data for the seed domain, the infrastructure data matching procedure performed by the domain name discovery server computer;responsive to the domain name registration information for the seed domain not being private, performing a WHOIS data matching procedure utilizing the WHOIS data for the seed domain, the WHOIS data matching procedure performed by the domain name discovery server computer; ...

Identifying Legitimate Websites to Remove False Positives from Domain Discovery Analysis

Aspects of the disclosure relate to identifying legitimate websites and removing false positives from domain discovery analysis. Based on a list of known legitimate domains, a computing platform may generate a baseline dataset of feature vectors corresponding to the known legitimate domains. Subsequently, the computing platform may receive information identifying a first domain for analysis and may execute one or more machine learning algorithms to compare the first domain to the baseline dataset. Based on execution of the one or more machine learning algorithms, the computing platform may generate first domain classification information indicating that the first domain is a legitimate domain. In response to determining that the first domain is a legitimate domain, the computing platform may send one or more commands directing a domain identification system to remove the first domain from a list of indeterminate domains maintained by the domain identification system.

Data enrichment systems and methods for abbreviated domain name classification

To find enriching contextual information for an abbreviated domain name, a data enrichment engine can comb through web content source code corresponding to the abbreviated domain name. From textual content in the web content source code, the data enrichment engine can identify words with initial characters that match characters of the abbreviated domain name to thereby establish a relationship there-between. This relationship can facilitate more accurate and efficient domain name classification. The data enrichment engine can query a WHOIS server to find out if candidate domains having initial characters that match the characters of the abbreviated domain name are registered to the same entity. If so, keywords can be extracted from the candidate domains and used to find more relevant domains for domain risk analysis and detection. Candidate domains determined by the data enrichment engine can be provided to a downstream computing facility such as a domain filter.

VISUAL DOMAIN DETECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Disclosed is an effective domain name defense solution in which a domain name string may be provided to or obtained by a computer embodying a visual domain analyzer. The domain name string may be rendered or otherwise converted to an image. An optical character recognition function may be applied to the image to read out a text string which can then be compared with a protected domain name to determine whether the text string generated by the optical character recognition function from the image converted from the domain name string is similar to or matches the protected domain name. This visual domain analysis can be dynamically applied in an online process or proactively applied in an offline process to hundreds of millions of domain names. 1. A method , comprising:obtaining, by a computer, a domain name from a data source;converting, by the computer, the domain name into an image;converting, by the computer, the image into a first text string corresponding to the domain name obtained from the data source;determining, by the computer utilizing a string distance function, a distance between the first text string corresponding to the domain name obtained from the data source and a second text string corresponding to a domain name of interest;determining, by the computer based at least on the distance, whether the first text string corresponding to the domain name obtained from the data source is visually similar to or matches the second text string corresponding to the domain name of interest; andresponsive to the first text string corresponding to the domain name obtained from the data source being determined as visually similar to or matches the second text string corresponding to the domain name of interest, identifying the domain name obtained from the data source as a candidate domain.2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein whether the first text string corresponding to the domain name obtained from the data source is visually similar to or matches the ...

NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC REDUCTION OF FALSE POSITIVES IN DOMAIN DISCOVERY

A rules engine is adapted for analyzing each match produced by a domain discovery system as matching a seed domain. Utilizing a natural language processing (NLP) library, the rules engine determines segments from the match, assigns a lexical category to each segment based on the context in how a seed domain string is used, and compares the lexical category of the segment that is closest to the seed domain string with a lexical category of the seed domain string. Based on the comparing, the rules engine determines whether the match is relevant to the seed domain and, if not, the match produced by the domain discovery system is identified as a false positive and automatically removed from a set of matches produced by the domain discovery system for the seed domain.

DATA ENRICHMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ABBREVIATED DOMAIN NAME CLASSIFICATION

To find enriching contextual information for an abbreviated domain name, a data enrichment engine can comb through web content source code corresponding to the abbreviated domain name. From textual content in the web content source code, the data enrichment engine can identify words with initial characters that match characters of the abbreviated domain name to thereby establish a relationship there-between. This relationship can facilitate more accurate and efficient domain name classification. The data enrichment engine can query a WHOIS server to find out if candidate domains having initial characters that match the characters of the abbreviated domain name are registered to the same entity. If so, keywords can be extracted from the candidate domains and used to find more relevant domains for domain risk analysis and detection. Candidate domains determined by the data enrichment engine can be provided to a downstream computing facility such as a domain filter.

Visual domain detection systems and methods

Disclosed is an effective domain name defense solution in which a domain name string may be provided to or obtained by a computer embodying a visual domain analyzer. The domain name string may be rendered or otherwise converted to an image. An optical character recognition function may be applied to the image to read out a text string which can then be compared with a protected domain name to determine whether the text string generated by the optical character recognition function from the image converted from the domain name string is similar to or matches the protected domain name. This visual domain analysis can be dynamically applied in an online process or proactively applied in an offline process to hundreds of millions of domain names.

Identifying legitimate websites to remove false positives from domain discovery analysis

Aspects of the disclosure relate to identifying legitimate websites and removing false positives from domain discovery analysis. Based on a list of known legitimate domains, a computing platform may generate (605) a baseline dataset of feature vectors corresponding to the known legitimate domains. Subsequently, the computing platform may receive (610) information identifying a first domain for analysis and may execute (615-645) one or more machine learning algorithms to compare the first domain to the baseline dataset. Based on execution (615-645) of the one or more machine learning algorithms, the computing platform may generate first domain classification information indicating that the first domain is a legitimate domain. In response to determining that the first domain is a legitimate domain, the computing platform may send (650) one or more commands directing a domain identification system to remove the first domain from a list of indeterminate domains maintained by the domain identification system.

Systems and methods for email campaign domain classification

A domain processing system receives or collects (201, 203) raw data containing sample domains each having a known class identity indicating whether a domain is conducting an email campaign. The domain processing system extracts (205) features from each of the sample domains and selects (207) features of interest from the features, including at least a feature particular to a seed domain and features particular to email activities over a time line that includes days before and after a domain creation date. The features of interest are used to create (211) feature vectors which, in turn, are used to train (220) a machine learning model, the training (220) including optimizing a neural network structure iteratively until stopping criteria are satisfied. The trained model functions as an email campaign domain classifier operable to classify candidate domains with unknown class identities such that each of the candidate domain is classified as conducting or not conducting an email campaign.

Identifying legitimate websites to remove false positives from domain discovery analysis

Aspects of the disclosure relate to identifying legitimate websites and removing false positives from domain discovery analysis. Based on a list of known legitimate domains, a computing platform may generate a baseline dataset of feature vectors corresponding to the known legitimate domains. Subsequently, the computing platform may receive information identifying a first domain for analysis and may execute one or more machine learning algorithms to compare the first domain to the baseline dataset. Based on execution of the one or more machine learning algorithms, the computing platform may generate first domain classification information indicating that the first domain is a legitimate domain. In response to determining that the first domain is a legitimate domain, the computing platform may send one or more commands directing a domain identification system to remove the first domain from a list of indeterminate domains maintained by the domain identification system.

Identifying legitimate websites to remove false positives from domain discovery analysis

Aspects of the disclosure relate to identifying legitimate websites and removing false positives from domain discovery analysis. Based on a list of known legitimate domains, a computing platform may generate a baseline dataset of feature vectors corresponding to the known legitimate domains. Subsequently, the computing platform may receive information identifying a first domain for analysis and may execute one or more machine learning algorithms to compare the first domain to the baseline dataset. Based on execution of the one or more machine learning algorithms, the computing platform may generate first domain classification information indicating that the first domain is a legitimate domain. In response to determining that the first domain is a legitimate domain, the computing platform may send one or more commands directing a domain identification system to remove the first domain from a list of indeterminate domains maintained by the domain identification system.

Visual domain detection systems and methods

Disclosed is an effective domain name defense solution in which a domain name string may be provided to or obtained by a computer embodying a visual domain analyzer. The domain name string may be rendered or otherwise converted to an image. An optical character recognition function may be applied to the image to read out a text string which can then be compared with a protected domain name to determine whether the text string generated by the optical character recognition function from the image converted from the domain name string is similar to or matches the protected domain name. This visual domain analysis can be dynamically applied in an online process or proactively applied in an offline process to hundreds of millions of domain names.

Data enrichment systems and methods for abbreviated domain name classification

To find enriching contextual information for an abbreviated domain name, a data enrichment engine can comb through web content source code corresponding to the abbreviated domain name. From textual content in the web content source code, the data enrichment engine can identify words with initial characters that match characters of the abbreviated domain name to thereby establish a relationship there-between. This relationship can facilitate more accurate and efficient domain name classification. The data enrichment engine can query a WHOIS server to find out if candidate domains having initial characters that match the characters of the abbreviated domain name are registered to the same entity. If so, keywords can be extracted from the candidate domains and used to find more relevant domains for domain risk analysis and detection. Candidate domains determined by the data enrichment engine can be provided to a downstream computing facility such as a domain filter.

Intelligent clustering systems and methods useful for domain protection

An intelligent clustering system has a dual-mode clustering engine for mass-processing and stream-processing. A tree data model is utilized to describe heterogenous data elements in an accurate and uniform way and to calculate a tree distance between each data element and a cluster representative. The clustering engine performs element clustering, through sequential or parallel stages, to cluster the data elements based at least in part on calculated tree distances and parameter values reflecting user-provided domain knowledge on a given objective. The initial clusters thus generated are fine-tuned by undergoing an iterative self-tuning process, which continues when new data is streamed from data source(s). The clustering engine incorporates stage-specific domain knowledge through stage-specific configurations. This hybrid approach combines strengths of user domain knowledge and machine learning power. Optimized clusters can be used by a prediction engine to increase prediction performance and/or by a network security specialist to identify hidden patterns.

Identifying legitimate websites to remove false positives from domain discovery analysis

Aspects of the disclosure relate to identifying legitimate websites and removing false positives from domain discovery analysis. Based on a list of known legitimate domains, a computing platform may generate (605) a baseline dataset of feature vectors corresponding to the known legitimate domains. Subsequently, the computing platform may receive (610) information identifying a first domain for analysis and may execute (615-645) one or more machine learning algorithms to compare the first domain to the baseline dataset. Based on execution (615-645) of the one or more machine learning algorithms, the computing platform may generate first domain classification information indicating that the first domain is a legitimate domain. In response to determining that the first domain is a legitimate domain, the computing platform may send (650) one or more commands directing a domain identification system to remove the first domain from a list of indeterminate domains maintained by the domain identification system.

Data enrichment systems and methods for abbreviated domain name classification

To find enriching contextual information for an abbreviated domain name, a data enrichment engine can comb through web content source code corresponding to the abbreviated domain name. From textual content in the web content source code, the data enrichment engine can identify words with initial characters that match characters of the abbreviated domain name to thereby establish a relationship there-between. This relationship can facilitate more accurate and efficient domain name classification. The data enrichment engine can query a WHOIS server to find out if candidate domains having initial characters that match the characters of the abbreviated domain name are registered to the same entity. If so, keywords can be extracted from the candidate domains and used to find more relevant domains for domain risk analysis and detection. Candidate domains determined by the data enrichment engine can be provided to a downstream computing facility such as a domain filter.

Identifying legitimate websites to remove false positives from domain discovery analysis

Domain name processing systems and methods

A domain processing system is enhanced with a first-pass domain filter configured for loading character strings representing a pair of domains consisting of a seed domain and a candidate domain in a computer memory, computing a similarity score and a dynamic threshold for the pair of domains, determining whether the similarity score exceeds the dynamic threshold, and iterating the loading, the computing, and the determining for each of a plurality of candidate domains paired with the seed domain. A similarity score between the seed domain and the candidate domain and a corresponding dynamic threshold for the pair are computed. If the similarity score exceeds the corresponding dynamic threshold, the candidate domain is provided to a downstream computing facility. Otherwise, it is dropped. In this way, the first-pass domain filter can significantly reduce the number of domains that otherwise would need to be processed by the downstream computing facility.

Identifying legitimate websites to remove false positives from domain discovery analysis

Aspects of the disclosure relate to identifying legitimate websites and removing false positives from domain discovery analysis. Based on a list of known legitimate domains, a computing platform may generate (605) a baseline dataset of feature vectors corresponding to the known legitimate domains. Subsequently, the computing platform may receive (610) information identifying a first domain for analysis and may execute (615-645) one or more machine learning algorithms to compare the first domain to the baseline dataset. Based on execution (615-645) of the one or more machine learning algorithms, the computing platform may generate first domain classification information indicating that the first domain is a legitimate domain. In response to determining that the first domain is a legitimate domain, the computing platform may send (650) one or more commands directing a domain identification system to remove the first domain from a list of indeterminate domains maintained by the domain identification system.

Systems and methods for email campaign domain classification

Threat actor identification systems and methods

A threat actor identification system that obtains domain data for a set of domains, generates domain clusters, determines whether the domain clusters are associated with threat actors, and presents domain data for the clusters that are associated with threat actors to brand owners that are associated with the threat actors. The clusters may be generated based on similarities in web page content, domain registration information, and/or domain infrastructure information. For each cluster, a clustering engine determines whether the cluster is associated with a threat actor, and for clusters that are associated with threat actors, corresponding domain information is stored for presentation to brand owners to whom the threat actor poses a threat.

Detecting random and/or algorithmically-generated character sequences in domain names

Aspects of the disclosure relate to detecting random and/or algorithmically-generated character sequences in domain names. A computing platform may train a machine learning model based on a set of semantically-meaningful words. Subsequently, the computing platform may receive a seed string and a set of domains to be analyzed in connection with the seed string. Based on the machine learning model, the computing platform may apply a classification algorithm to the seed string and the set of domains, where applying the classification algorithm to the seed string and the set of domains produces a classification result. Thereafter, the computing platform may store the classification result.

Threat actor identification systems and methods

A threat actor identification system that obtains domain data for a set of domains, generates domain clusters, determines whether the domain clusters are associated with threat actors, and presents domain data for the clusters that are associated with threat actors to brand owners that are associated with the threat actors. The clusters may be generated based on similarities in web page content, domain registration information, and/or domain infrastructure information. For each cluster, a clustering engine determines whether the cluster is associated with a threat actor, and for clusters that are associated with threat actors, corresponding domain information is stored for presentation to brand owners to whom the threat actor poses a threat.

Threat actor identification

Intelligent clustering systems and methods useful for domain protection

An intelligent clustering system has a dual-mode clustering engine for mass-processing and stream-processing. A tree data model is utilized to describe heterogenous data elements in an accurate and uniform way and to calculate a tree distance between each data element and a cluster representative. The clustering engine performs element clustering, through sequential or parallel stages, to cluster the data elements based at least in part on calculated tree distances and parameter values reflecting user-provided domain knowledge on a given objective. The initial clusters thus generated are fine-tuned by undergoing an iterative self-tuning process, which continues when new data is streamed from data source(s). The clustering engine incorporates stage-specific domain knowledge through stage-specific configurations. This hybrid approach combines strengths of user domain knowledge and machine learning power. Optimized clusters can be used by a prediction engine to increase prediction performance and/or by a network security specialist to identify hidden patterns.

Intelligent clustering systems and methods useful for domain protection

An intelligent clustering system has a dual-mode clustering engine for mass-processing and stream-processing. A tree data model is utilized to describe heterogenous data elements in an accurate and uniform way and to calculate a tree distance between each data element and a cluster representative. The clustering engine performs element clustering, through sequential or parallel stages, to cluster the data elements based at least in part on calculated tree distances and parameter values reflecting user-provided domain knowledge on a given objective. The initial clusters thus generated are fine-tuned by undergoing an iterative self-tuning process, which continues when new data is streamed from data source(s). The clustering engine incorporates stage-specific domain knowledge through stage-specific configurations. This hybrid approach combines strengths of user domain knowledge and machine learning power. Optimized clusters can be used by a prediction engine to increase prediction performance and/or by a network security specialist to identify hidden patterns.

Detecting Random and/or Algorithmically-Generated Character Sequences in Domain Names

Aspects of the disclosure relate to detecting random and/or algorithmically-generated character sequences in domain names. A computing platform may train a machine learning model based on a set of semantically-meaningful words. Subsequently, the computing platform may receive a seed string and a set of domains to be analyzed in connection with the seed string. Based on the machine learning model, the computing platform may apply a classification algorithm to the seed string and the set of domains, where applying the classification algorithm to the seed string and the set of domains produces a classification result. Thereafter, the computing platform may store the classification result.

Threat actor identification systems and methods

A threat actor identification system that obtains domain data for a set of domains, generates domain clusters, determines whether the domain clusters are associated with threat actors, and presents domain data for the clusters that are associated with threat actors to brand owners that are associated with the threat actors. The clusters may be generated based on similarities in web page content, domain registration information, and/or domain infrastructure information. For each cluster, a clustering engine determines whether the cluster is associated with a threat actor, and for clusters that are associated with threat actors, corresponding domain information is stored for presentation to brand owners to whom the threat actor poses a threat.