Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is cato.org legit or a scam?
AboutUs doesn't label sites "legit" or "a scam": this page lists the dated registration, DNS, HTTPS, mail-authentication and safety checks we could verify, each with its source, so you can decide for yourself.
Who owns cato.org?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for cato.org. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 31 years ago · on AboutUs since 2006 · 2 registrar changes since Jul 14, 2011 · 1 ownership change since 2011 · last checked Oct 2, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredFeb 22, 1995cato.org was registered on Feb 22, 1995.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 19, 2006 – Nov 2, 2013An AboutUs wiki page described cato.org from Jun 19, 2006 to Nov 2, 2013 (4 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023Said about itself in 2006
Registrar
Network Solutions, LLC (R63-LROR)Jul 14, 2011 – Mar 24, 2014Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (R63-LROR) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for cato.org, from Jul 14, 2011 to Mar 24, 2014.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)Network Solutions, LLC
Ownership
Ownership recordsJul 14, 2011 – Jun 27, 2026Registration records for cato.org are held from Jul 14, 2011 to Jun 27, 2026 (184 records). 1 change of registrant name or organization is marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Zone file
Nameservers: i95.netNameservers: i95.netJul 14, 2011 – Feb 5, 2017Registration records listed i95.net nameservers (ns1.i95.net, ns2.i95.net) for cato.org from Jul 14, 2011 to Feb 5, 2017.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)Nameservers: Amazon Route 53
Certificate
GlobalSign nv-saJan 26, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026 (latest)GlobalSign nv-sa issued 7 certificates for cato.org from Jan 26, 2026, the latest valid until Dec 27, 2026. Seen in use on Oct 2, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 2, 2026
200020102020Jan ’26Oct ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (17)
Feb 22, 1995Registration: cato.org was registered on Feb 22, 1995.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
Jun 19, 2006 – Nov 2, 2013AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described cato.org from Jun 19, 2006 to Nov 2, 2013 (4 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “David Boaz will discuss the Bush administration and this week's events on CNBC Morning Call on Thursday at 10:20 a.m. ET”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Jul 14, 2011 – Mar 24, 2014Registrar: Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (R63-LROR) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for cato.org, from Jul 14, 2011 to Mar 24, 2014.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Jul 14, 2011 – Jun 27, 2026Ownership: Registration records for cato.org are held from Jul 14, 2011 to Jun 27, 2026 (184 records). 1 change of registrant name or organization is marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jul 14, 2011 – Feb 5, 2017Zone file: Registration records listed i95.net nameservers (ns1.i95.net, ns2.i95.net) for cato.org from Jul 14, 2011 to Feb 5, 2017.
Automated safety checks
DNS (passed)
AboutUs has not vetted this site. Everything below is what we could measure automatically. Anything you do on the site — paying, sharing personal details, downloading — is between you and the site, not AboutUs.
Current facts
Latest available measurements; dated entries retain their dates. These are measurements, not an endorsement of the site.
latest result
Domain registered Feb 22, 1995 — 31 years old.
latest result
Registrar on record: Amazon Registrar, Inc. — unchanged since AboutUs began tracking (Aug 25, 2026).
Authority 75/100— ahead of 75% of the August 2026 scored sample
Jul 1, 2006
“David Boaz will discuss the Bush administration and this week's events on CNBC Morning Call on Thursday at 10:20 a.m. ET”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Current AboutUs recordJun 21, 2026 – Aug 20, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 20, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Jul 7, 2016 – Feb 20, 2018
Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for cato.org, from Jul 7, 2016 to Feb 20, 2018.
Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Amazon Registrar, Inc.Amazon Registrar, Inc.Jul 13, 2018 – Oct 1, 2026 (latest)Registrar Amazon Registrar, Inc. (IANA 468) in the registration data recorded, first on Jul 13, 2018 and most recently on Oct 1, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
Ownership change
Jul 13, 2018
The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jul 13, 2018. Who it changed to is in the full report.
Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
1 ownership change, 2011–2026
Nameservers: Amazon Route 53May 4, 2017 – Jun 27, 2026Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1307.awsdns-35.org, ns-1621.awsdns-10.co.uk, ns-356.awsdns-44.com…) for cato.org from May 4, 2017 to Jun 27, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to Amazon Route 53May 4, 2017cato.org's nameservers moved from i95.net to Amazon Route 53 at some point between Feb 5, 2017 and May 4, 2017. Last seen at i95.net: Feb 5, 2017 (registration record). First seen at Amazon Route 53: May 4, 2017 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 3 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Amazon
Mar 11, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026
Amazon issued 2 certificates for cato.org from Mar 11, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 9, 2027.
Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Let's EncryptMar 28, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Let's Encrypt issued 67 certificates for cato.org from Mar 28, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 23, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Google Trust ServicesApr 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Google Trust Services issued 19 certificates for cato.org from Apr 23, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 16, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
DigiCert IncSep 22, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026DigiCert Inc issued 1 certificate for cato.org from Sep 22, 2026, the latest valid until Apr 8, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Jul 7, 2016 – Feb 20, 2018Registrar: Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for cato.org, from Jul 7, 2016 to Feb 20, 2018.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
May 4, 2017 – Jun 27, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1307.awsdns-35.org, ns-1621.awsdns-10.co.uk, ns-356.awsdns-44.com…) for cato.org from May 4, 2017 to Jun 27, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
May 4, 2017Zone file: cato.org's nameservers moved from i95.net to Amazon Route 53 at some point between Feb 5, 2017 and May 4, 2017. Last seen at i95.net: Feb 5, 2017 (registration record). First seen at Amazon Route 53: May 4, 2017 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 3 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jul 13, 2018 – Oct 1, 2026Registrar: Registrar Amazon Registrar, Inc. (IANA 468) in the registration data recorded, first on Jul 13, 2018 and most recently on Oct 1, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
Jul 13, 2018Ownership: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jul 13, 2018. Who it changed to is in the full report.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jan 26, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: GlobalSign nv-sa issued 7 certificates for cato.org from Jan 26, 2026, the latest valid until Dec 27, 2026. Seen in use on Oct 2, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 2, 2026
Mar 11, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: Amazon issued 2 certificates for cato.org from Mar 11, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 9, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Mar 28, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 67 certificates for cato.org from Mar 28, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 23, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Apr 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 19 certificates for cato.org from Apr 23, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 16, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 21, 2026 – Aug 20, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 20, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Sep 22, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: DigiCert Inc issued 1 certificate for cato.org from Sep 22, 2026, the latest valid until Apr 8, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Clear
Why this authority score
75 is a percentile: higher than 75% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #11,084)+9
Verified continuity: 31.7 years (RDAP registration)+11
Security & email hygiene+3
Calibration adjustment (published map)+15
Model score: 38/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 75/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
Safety evidence
No unexpired threat-feed result; name-similarity check available (recorded about 67 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 67 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
No caution flags in the available scoring observations; this is not a complete safety assessment
What cato.org said about itself, 2006
Quoted from the site's AboutUs wiki page in each year it changed (1 version). These are the page's own words at the time, not AboutUs's assessment. New words · dropped words
2006
David Boaz will discuss the Bush administration and this week's events on CNBC Morning Call on Thursday at 10:20 a.m. ET
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date; self-description below is the 2013 record.
1995
Domain registered (Feb 22, 1995).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 19, 2006); profile edited 4 times through 2013.