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Should You Trust Information Based on Domain Names?

2023-08-21 20:31:53Z (last updated 2023-10-16 08:55:03Z)

No!

Domains names convey ZERO information on one's expertise, so you should definitely not only use domain names as a source of trust.

Actually, maybe that's a little unclear. Let me give you an example:

(Please do NOT navigate to any provided domain names)

Let's say you find a website with the domain "top10vpnproviders.com" or something like that. Should you trust a website with a domain like that?

My answer is: No. Not at all. There's a few reasons why:

A domain name doesn't change. It also requires financial commitment (although they're pretty cheap. Prices vary, a .com domain is about $10/year, it's very cheap).

A domain name that's hyper-specific (e.g. "top10vpnproviders.com") is unlikely to be honest with you, rather, trying to advertise you VPNs (in that example. They're also made by companies which also made the VPN, and maybe also do advertising stuff instead of VPN stuff. They're also VPNs you should definitely not use). If an actual website was on the supposed domain name "top10vpnproviders.com", it's more likely they're trying to game the system (SEO) and get your money rather than provide you actually useful and good information.

The domain name actually isn't *that* important for specific pieces information. I can provide useful information ("should you trust based on random domain names?") even under a domain that is completely disconnected from the topic (the domain I have is just my online name).

That's all the reasons you shouldn't only trust based on a domain name.

There are reasons you can trust a domain name, but that doesn't only come from the domain name. You can't trust a person just because they said "trust me bro", but you can probably trust a person if from what you can tell, they aren't very obviously incorrect and other (trusted) people agree with them.

Reality is fuzzy, but a "top10vpnproviders.com" domain is not to be not trusted. Not even the slightest.

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