vlc.zip

You are very likely visiting that site because you typed vlc.zip somewhere. Similar to setup.zip I registered the domain to prevent harm to users.

In the ever-evolving landscape of the internet, staying ahead of malicious actors and protecting users from potential threats is of paramount importance. To combat the risks associated with hosting malicious content related to VLC media player, have taken a commendable step by launching VLC.zip—a domain specifically designed to safeguard users from potential security vulnerabilities. With the recent introduction of .zip as a new top-level domain (TLD) a potential risk was introduced.

Preventing Malicious Intent and Impersonation

The introduction of VLC.zip not only serves as a protective measure against malicious hosting but also acts as a deterrent for impersonation attempts. Cybercriminals often exploit well-known software names to deceive users into downloading harmful files or falling victim to phishing attacks. VLC.zip also redirecting to this blogpost improves awareness.

What can you do? Talk to your sysadmin and consider to block the toplevel domain .zip. Install a AV software and keep all your software up to date.

setup.zip

The internet has seen a lot of changes in recent years, and one of the most significant changes has been the introduction of new top-level domains (TLDs). These new TLDs have opened up a whole new world of possibilities for website owners, but they have also created new challenges, particularly in terms of protecting users from malicious actors. One of the newest TLDs is .zip, and in this blog post, we’ll discuss how to register a .zip domain and set it up to protect users from malicious actors.

First, it’s important to understand what a TLD is. A top-level domain is the part of a domain name that comes after the final dot, such as „.com“ or „.org“. Traditionally, there have been a limited number of TLDs available, but in recent years, ICANN (the organization responsible for managing the internet’s domain name system) has been introducing new TLDs to increase choice and competition.

The .zip TLD is one of the newest TLDs, and it’s designed specifically for websites that deal with compressed files. The idea is that by using a .zip domain, website owners can signal to users that their site is a trustworthy source of compressed files.

In May 2023, Google wrote a blogpost about the newest toplevel domains:

  • .dad
  • .esq
  • .prof
  • .phd
  • .nexus
  • .foo
  • .zip
  • .mov

Especially the .zip can cause problems. That is why I went ahead and registered „setup.zip“ assuming it is part of many typos and pages. This blog will be the redirect destination for everyone attempting to access „setup.zip“ if you have other good research ideas what to do with the domain, reach out via twitter on @alexanderjaeger.