Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is firstthings.com legit or a scam?
firstthings.com was registered Jun 7, 1996 (30 years old), per public registration records. 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 firstthings.com?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for firstthings.com. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
When was firstthings.com registered?
firstthings.com's registration dates to Jun 7, 1996 (30 years old), per public registration records. GoDaddy.com, LLC is the registrar on record today.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
Lifeline · firstthings.com over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 30 years ago · on AboutUs since 2006 · 1 registrar change since May 17, 2007 · 5 registrant changes since 2007 · last checked Nov 13, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredJun 7, 1996firstthings.com was registered on Jun 7, 1996.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageJun 20, 2006 – Dec 27, 2007An AboutUs wiki page described firstthings.com from Jun 20, 2006 to Dec 27, 2007 (3 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023Said about itself in 2006Jul 1, 2006
Registrar
DomainPeople Inc.May 17, 2007 – Feb 23, 2010Registrar DomainPeople Inc. in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for firstthings.com, from May 17, 2007 to Feb 23, 2010.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)GoDaddy.com, LLC
Registrant
Registrant recordsMay 17, 2007 – May 17, 2026Registration records for firstthings.com are held from May 17, 2007 to May 17, 2026 (117 records). 5 changes of registrant name or organization are marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Zone file
No nameserver records held, Sep 2012 – Oct 2013Nameservers: ovh.netMay 17, 2007 – Jan 1, 2008Registration records listed ovh.net nameservers (ns.ovh.net, ns21746.ovh.net) for firstthings.com from May 17, 2007 to Jan 1, 2008.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Certificate
AmazonAmazonOct 23, 2025 – Nov 13, 2026Amazon issued 8 certificates for firstthings.com from Oct 23, 2025, the latest valid until Apr 8, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)Sectigo LimitedApr 2, 2026 – Jul 1, 2026
200020102020Jan ’26Oct ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (31)
Jun 7, 1996Registration: firstthings.com was registered on Jun 7, 1996.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
Jun 20, 2006 – Dec 27, 2007AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described firstthings.com from Jun 20, 2006 to Dec 27, 2007 (3 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “FIRST THINGS is published by The Institute on Religion and Public Life, an interreligious, nonpartisan research and education institute whose purpose is to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the orderi…”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
May 17, 2007 – Feb 23, 2010Registrar: Registrar DomainPeople Inc. in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for firstthings.com, from May 17, 2007 to Feb 23, 2010.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
May 17, 2007 – May 17, 2026Registrant: Registration records for firstthings.com are held from May 17, 2007 to May 17, 2026 (117 records). 5 changes of registrant name or organization are marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
“FIRST THINGS is published by The Institute on Religion and Public Life, an interreligious, nonpartisan research and education institute whose purpose is to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the orderi…”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Current AboutUs recordJun 25, 2026 – Nov 9, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 9, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
GoDaddy.com, LLC
Aug 29, 2011 – Nov 10, 2026 (latest)
Registrar GoDaddy.com, LLC (IANA 146) in the registration data recorded, first on Aug 29, 2011 and most recently on Nov 10, 2026.
Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
Registrant changeJun 6, 2008The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jun 6, 2008. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Registrant changeAug 30, 2008The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Aug 30, 2008. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Registrant changeJul 30, 2009The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jul 30, 2009. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Registrant changeAug 23, 2010The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Aug 23, 2010. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Registrant changeJul 29, 2016The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jul 29, 2016. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
5 registrant changes, 2007–2026
Nameservers: temporarystatus.comJun 6, 2008 – Jun 8, 2008Registration records listed temporarystatus.com nameservers (ns1.temporarystatus.com) for firstthings.com from Jun 6, 2008 to Jun 8, 2008.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to temporarystatus.comJun 6, 2008firstthings.com's nameservers moved from ovh.net to temporarystatus.com at some point between Jan 1, 2008 and Jun 6, 2008. Last seen at ovh.net: Jan 1, 2008 (registration record). First seen at temporarystatus.com: Jun 6, 2008 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 5 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)
Nameservers: clever-hosting.net, ovh.netAug 30, 2008 – Jan 8, 2009Registration records listed clever-hosting.net, ovh.net nameservers (dns2.clever-hosting.net, sdns1.ovh.net) for firstthings.com from Aug 30, 2008 to Jan 8, 2009.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to clever-hosting.net, ovh.netAug 30, 2008firstthings.com's nameservers moved from temporarystatus.com to clever-hosting.net, ovh.net at some point between Jun 8, 2008 and Aug 30, 2008. Last seen at temporarystatus.com: Jun 8, 2008 (registration record). First seen at clever-hosting.net, ovh.net: Aug 30, 2008 (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)
Nameservers: firstthings.comApr 3, 2009 – Sep 11, 2012Registration records listed firstthings.com nameservers (ns1.firstthings.com, ns2.firstthings.com) for firstthings.com from Apr 3, 2009 to Sep 11, 2012.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to firstthings.comApr 3, 2009firstthings.com's nameservers moved from clever-hosting.net, ovh.net to firstthings.com at some point between Jan 8, 2009 and Apr 3, 2009. Last seen at clever-hosting.net, ovh.net: Jan 8, 2009 (registration record). First seen at firstthings.com: Apr 3, 2009 (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)
Nameservers: DNS Made EasyOct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018DNS Made Easy (ns10.dnsmadeeasy.com, ns11.dnsmadeeasy.com, ns12.dnsmadeeasy.com…) were the nameservers listed for firstthings.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Oct 18, 2013 to Apr 3, 2018 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
DNS moved to DNS Made EasyOct 18, 2013firstthings.com's nameservers moved from firstthings.com to DNS Made Easy at some point between Sep 11, 2012 and Oct 18, 2013. Last seen at firstthings.com: Sep 11, 2012 (registration record). First seen at DNS Made Easy: Oct 18, 2013 (ICANN zone-file snapshot). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 13 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 → ICANN zone-file snapshot)
Nameservers: DNS Made EasyNameservers: DNS Made EasyApr 4, 2018 – Nov 26, 2024Registration records listed DNS Made Easy nameservers (ns10.dnsmadeeasy.com, ns11.dnsmadeeasy.com, ns12.dnsmadeeasy.com…) for firstthings.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Nov 26, 2024. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nameservers: CloudflareMar 12, 2025 – May 17, 2026Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (george.ns.cloudflare.com, leia.ns.cloudflare.com) for firstthings.com from Mar 12, 2025 to May 17, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to CloudflareMar 12, 2025firstthings.com's nameservers moved from DNS Made Easy to Cloudflare at some point between Nov 26, 2024 and Mar 12, 2025. Last seen at DNS Made Easy: Nov 26, 2024 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Mar 12, 2025 (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)
Seen in the .com zone fileSep 8, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026 (latest)First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Nov 13, 2026. Nameservers on Nov 13, 2026: george.ns.cloudflare.com, leia.ns.cloudflare.com. DNSSEC signed on Nov 13, 2026.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 13, 2026
Sectigo Limited issued 1 certificate for firstthings.com from Apr 2, 2026, the latest valid until Jul 1, 2026.
Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Let's EncryptApr 9, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026 (latest)Let's Encrypt issued 13 certificates for firstthings.com from Apr 9, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 18, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 29, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 29, 2026
Google Trust ServicesMay 9, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026Google Trust Services issued 2 certificates for firstthings.com from May 9, 2026, the latest valid until Aug 7, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
SSL CorporationJun 12, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026SSL Corporation issued 3 certificates for firstthings.com from Jun 12, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 17, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Google Trust ServicesNov 3, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026Google Trust Services issued 1 certificate for firstthings.com from Nov 3, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 1, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
May 17, 2007 – Jan 1, 2008
Zone file: Registration records listed ovh.net nameservers (ns.ovh.net, ns21746.ovh.net) for firstthings.com from May 17, 2007 to Jan 1, 2008.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Jun 6, 2008Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jun 6, 2008. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jun 6, 2008 – Jun 8, 2008Zone file: Registration records listed temporarystatus.com nameservers (ns1.temporarystatus.com) for firstthings.com from Jun 6, 2008 to Jun 8, 2008.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Jun 6, 2008Zone file: firstthings.com's nameservers moved from ovh.net to temporarystatus.com at some point between Jan 1, 2008 and Jun 6, 2008. Last seen at ovh.net: Jan 1, 2008 (registration record). First seen at temporarystatus.com: Jun 6, 2008 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 5 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)
Aug 30, 2008Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Aug 30, 2008. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Aug 30, 2008 – Jan 8, 2009Zone file: Registration records listed clever-hosting.net, ovh.net nameservers (dns2.clever-hosting.net, sdns1.ovh.net) for firstthings.com from Aug 30, 2008 to Jan 8, 2009.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Aug 30, 2008Zone file: firstthings.com's nameservers moved from temporarystatus.com to clever-hosting.net, ovh.net at some point between Jun 8, 2008 and Aug 30, 2008. Last seen at temporarystatus.com: Jun 8, 2008 (registration record). First seen at clever-hosting.net, ovh.net: Aug 30, 2008 (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)
Apr 3, 2009 – Sep 11, 2012Zone file: Registration records listed firstthings.com nameservers (ns1.firstthings.com, ns2.firstthings.com) for firstthings.com from Apr 3, 2009 to Sep 11, 2012.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Apr 3, 2009Zone file: firstthings.com's nameservers moved from clever-hosting.net, ovh.net to firstthings.com at some point between Jan 8, 2009 and Apr 3, 2009. Last seen at clever-hosting.net, ovh.net: Jan 8, 2009 (registration record). First seen at firstthings.com: Apr 3, 2009 (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 30, 2009Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jul 30, 2009. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Aug 23, 2010Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Aug 23, 2010. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Aug 29, 2011 – Nov 10, 2026Registrar: Registrar GoDaddy.com, LLC (IANA 146) in the registration data recorded, first on Aug 29, 2011 and most recently on Nov 10, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
Oct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018Zone file: DNS Made Easy (ns10.dnsmadeeasy.com, ns11.dnsmadeeasy.com, ns12.dnsmadeeasy.com…) were the nameservers listed for firstthings.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Oct 18, 2013 to Apr 3, 2018 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
Oct 18, 2013Zone file: firstthings.com's nameservers moved from firstthings.com to DNS Made Easy at some point between Sep 11, 2012 and Oct 18, 2013. Last seen at firstthings.com: Sep 11, 2012 (registration record). First seen at DNS Made Easy: Oct 18, 2013 (ICANN zone-file snapshot). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 13 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 → ICANN zone-file snapshot)
Jul 29, 2016Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jul 29, 2016. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Apr 4, 2018 – Nov 26, 2024Zone file: Registration records listed DNS Made Easy nameservers (ns10.dnsmadeeasy.com, ns11.dnsmadeeasy.com, ns12.dnsmadeeasy.com…) for firstthings.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Nov 26, 2024. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Mar 12, 2025 – May 17, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (george.ns.cloudflare.com, leia.ns.cloudflare.com) for firstthings.com from Mar 12, 2025 to May 17, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Mar 12, 2025Zone file: firstthings.com's nameservers moved from DNS Made Easy to Cloudflare at some point between Nov 26, 2024 and Mar 12, 2025. Last seen at DNS Made Easy: Nov 26, 2024 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Mar 12, 2025 (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)
Oct 23, 2025 – Nov 13, 2026Certificate: Amazon issued 8 certificates for firstthings.com from Oct 23, 2025, the latest valid until Apr 8, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Apr 2, 2026 – Jul 1, 2026Certificate: Sectigo Limited issued 1 certificate for firstthings.com from Apr 2, 2026, the latest valid until Jul 1, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Apr 9, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 13 certificates for firstthings.com from Apr 9, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 18, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 29, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 29, 2026
May 9, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 2 certificates for firstthings.com from May 9, 2026, the latest valid until Aug 7, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 12, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026Certificate: SSL Corporation issued 3 certificates for firstthings.com from Jun 12, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 17, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 25, 2026 – Nov 9, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 9, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Sep 8, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026Zone file: First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Nov 13, 2026. Nameservers on Nov 13, 2026: george.ns.cloudflare.com, leia.ns.cloudflare.com. DNSSEC signed on Nov 13, 2026.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 13, 2026
Nov 3, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 1 certificate for firstthings.com from Nov 3, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 1, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Registered 1996 · site is live · HTTPS valid
First Things is a monthly journal of religion, culture, and public life published by the Institute on Religion and Public Life, a nonpartisan research institute. The publication serves readers interested in religiously informed perspectives on public philosophy and social ordering, with subscriptions available for $34 annually.
Authority 83/100— ahead of 83% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
83 is a percentile: higher than 83% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #32,566)+7
Verified continuity: 30.4 years (RDAP registration)+11
Identity corroboration (capped)+4
Security & email hygiene+5
Calibration adjustment (published map)+15
Model score: 42/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 83/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
What firstthings.com 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
FIRST THINGS is published by The Institute on Religion and Public Life, an interreligious, nonpartisan research and education institute whose purpose is to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date.
1996
Domain registered (Jun 7, 1996).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 20, 2006); profile edited 3 times through 2007.
✓ domain continuity 30 years registered✓ live verified Nov 13, 2026
Safety evidence
No unexpired threat-feed result; name-similarity check available (recorded about 4 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 4 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