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Newly-Activated Domain

It indicates that the domain has recently become active and started responding to DNS queries after a period of inactivity or recent registration. Such domains often appear in the early stages of phishing or malware campaigns, as attackers frequently use newly created infrastructure to avoid detection.

Analyst Q&A

What this signal answers

The questions every analyst asks before acting on this signal.

What it detects01

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

It indicates that the domain has recently become active and started responding to DNS queries after a period of inactivity or recent registration. Such domains often appear in the early stages of phishing or malware campaigns, as attackers frequently use newly created infrastructure to avoid detection.

Why it matters02

Why are 'Newly-Activated Domain' important in threat detection?

Newly observed domains or IPs are often associated with emerging threats. Threat actors register and activate them shortly before launching attacks, such as phishing, C2 communications, or payload distribution. Therefore, tracking recently activated assets helps identify potential malicious activity before widespread abuse occurs.

How analysts use it03

How can analysts distinguish between benign and malicious newly-activated domains?

Analysts cross-correlate DNS activation time with other indicators such as WHOIS creation date, SSL registration time, domain category, and historical reputation. A newly activated domain with little reputation and low traffic is more suspicious compared to legitimate services undergoing planned launches.

Often paired with:alert_only
Evidence shape

What Newly-Activated 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_short_time_up_and_running",
  "name": "Newly-Activated 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.

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
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
Dead Domain

It refers to domains that have not been active or resolvable through DNS for an extended period. Dead domains often indi…

Malicious
Show 4 more in IP Stability & Retention

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