Skip to content
NewVerdictIQ Connector is here. One Docker image enriches your DNS logs with verdicts inside your network and forwards them to your SIEM.Install guide

Dead Domain

It refers to domains that have not been active or resolvable through DNS for an extended period. Dead domains often indicate abandoned or decommissioned infrastructure but can also be reactivated later for malicious purposes, a tactic known as domain reanimation.

Also surfaces as:
Inactive DomainNever-Activated Domain
Analyst Q&A

What this signal answers

The questions every analyst asks before acting on this signal.

What it detects01

What does 'Dead Domain' mean in DNS-layer or SOC analysis?

It refers to domains that have not been active or resolvable through DNS for an extended period. Dead domains often indicate abandoned or decommissioned infrastructure but can also be reactivated later for malicious purposes, a tactic known as domain reanimation.

Why it matters02

What is an 'Inactive Domain' and how does it differ from a 'Dormant Domain'?

An inactive domain is temporarily non-resolving, often due to misconfiguration, expired hosting, or intentional shutdown. Unlike dormant domains, they may return online, which makes monitoring for reactivation important from a threat-hunting perspective.

How analysts use it03

What does 'Never-Activated Domain' indicate?

It designates domains that have never shown any DNS resolution activity since registration. Such domains can be part of pre-staged malicious infrastructure or domain parking setups used for future campaigns.

Often paired with:alert_only
Evidence shape

What Dead Domain looks like in the response

A realistic shape of the entry the engine appends to the risk_signals array when this signal fires. Evidence keys are subgroup-default; per-signal overrides documented in the API reference.

json
{
  "slug": "ip_down_domain",
  "name": "Dead Domain",
  "group": "dns_history",
  "subgroup": "ip_stability_retention",
  "direction": "malicious",
  "evidence": {
    "current_ip_lifespan_days": 612,
    "median_ip_lifespan_days": 540,
    "ip_churn_30d": 1,
    "last_ip_change_days_ago": 612
  }
}
See in API reference
Siblings

Peers in IP Stability & Retention

8 other signals share the same subgroup. They detect related behaviors and often co-fire on the same IOC.

Dedicated Hosting Detected

It means the domain operates on an IP address that is not shared with any other unrelated domains. This indicates a dedi…

SafeCore
Long IP Lifespan

It indicates that the domain has maintained the same IP address or hosting infrastructure for an extended period, weeks,…

SafeCore
Long-Lived Active Domain

These refer to domains that have consistently resolved through DNS over a long period. Long-lived DNS activity often ind…

SafeCore
Newly-Activated Domain

It indicates that the domain has recently become active and started responding to DNS queries after a period of inactivi…

Malicious
Show 4 more in IP Stability & Retention

Start free, in five minutes

1,000 verdicts/month on the free tier, LLM layer included. No card required.