Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is howstuffworks.com legit or a scam?
howstuffworks.com was registered Jul 11, 1998 (28 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 howstuffworks.com?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for howstuffworks.com. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
When was howstuffworks.com registered?
howstuffworks.com's registration dates to Jul 11, 1998 (28 years old), per public registration records. eNom, LLC is the registrar on record today.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
2 of 4 safety checks passed (Nov 7, 2026).
Registered 1998 · site is live · HTTPS valid
HowStuffWorks is an online publishing company that produces thousands of articles, illustrations, and content features explaining how products, systems, and services work. It serves consumers seeking clear explanations and product reviews, with integrated content from acquired brands Consumer Guide and Mobil Travel Guide.
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 28 years ago · on AboutUs since 2006 · 5 registrar changes since May 11, 2007 · 5 registrant changes since 2007 · last checked Nov 1, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredJul 11, 1998howstuffworks.com was registered on Jul 11, 1998.Source: RDAP, fetched Oct 25, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 20, 2006 – Mar 11, 2011An AboutUs wiki page described howstuffworks.com from Jun 20, 2006 to Mar 11, 2011 (10 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Registrar
REGISTER.COM, INC.May 11, 2007 – Jul 28, 2009Registrar REGISTER.COM, INC. in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from May 11, 2007 to Jul 28, 2009.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)MELBOURNE IT, LTD. D/B/A INTERNET NAMES WORLDWIDE
Registrant
Registrant recordsMay 11, 2007 – Jun 24, 2026Registration records for howstuffworks.com are held from May 11, 2007 to Jun 24, 2026 (687 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, Jul 2009 – Feb 2012Nameservers: howstuffworks.comMay 11, 2007 – Jul 28, 2009Registration records listed howstuffworks.com nameservers (auth-ns1.howstuffworks.com, auth-ns2.howstuffworks.com) for howstuffworks.com from May 11, 2007 to Jul 28, 2009.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Certificate
DigiCert IncDigiCert IncAug 17, 2015 – Nov 11, 2022DigiCert Inc issued 6 certificates for howstuffworks.com from Aug 17, 2015, the latest valid until Nov 11, 2022.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (crt.sh)Amazon
200020102020Jan ’26Oct ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (25)
Jul 11, 1998Registration: howstuffworks.com was registered on Jul 11, 1998.Source: RDAP, fetched Oct 25, 2026
Jun 20, 2006 – Mar 11, 2011AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described howstuffworks.com from Jun 20, 2006 to Mar 11, 2011 (10 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “HowStuffWorks is an online publishing company widely recognized as a leading source for clear, unbiased, reliable explanations of how everything actually works. With thousands of articles, content features and illustrat…”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
May 11, 2007 – Jul 28, 2009Registrar: Registrar REGISTER.COM, INC. in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from May 11, 2007 to Jul 28, 2009.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
May 11, 2007 – Jun 24, 2026Registrant: Registration records for howstuffworks.com are held from May 11, 2007 to Jun 24, 2026 (687 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
Automated safety checks
DNS (passed)
HTTPS (passed)
Page metadata (failed)
Add a <title> tag to the homepage.
Security headers (failed)
Add the HSTS, Content-Security-Policy, and X-Frame-Options response headers.
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 Jul 11, 1998 — 28 years old.
latest result
Registrar on record: eNom, LLC — unchanged since AboutUs began tracking (Jul 23, 2026).
Authority 85/100— ahead of 85% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
85 is a percentile: higher than 85% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #2,876)+9
Verified continuity: 28.3 years (RDAP registration)+11
Security & email hygiene+5
Calibration adjustment (published map)+18
Model score: 43/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 85/100 — 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 6 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 6 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
What howstuffworks.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
HowStuffWorks is an online publishing company widely recognized as a leading source for clear, unbiased, reliable explanations of how everything actually works. With thousands of articles, content features and illustrations populating ten different content channels, HowStuffWorks.com attracts millions of unique visitors each month.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date.
1998
Domain registered (Jul 11, 1998).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 20, 2006); profile edited 10 times through 2011.
✓ domain continuity 28 years registered✓ live verified Nov 7, 2026
Said about itself in 2006
Jul 1, 2006
“HowStuffWorks is an online publishing company widely recognized as a leading source for clear, unbiased, reliable explanations of how everything actually works. With thousands of articles, content features and illustrat…”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Current AboutUs recordJun 17, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 1, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Feb 27, 2012 – Sep 9, 2012
Registrar MELBOURNE IT, LTD. D/B/A INTERNET NAMES WORLDWIDE in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from Feb 27, 2012 to Sep 9, 2012.
Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Melbourne IT LtdDec 18, 2013 – Feb 18, 2014Registrar Melbourne IT Ltd (IANA 13) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from Dec 18, 2013 to Feb 18, 2014.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
CSC Corporate Domains, Inc.Feb 25, 2014 – Jun 30, 2014Registrar CSC Corporate Domains, Inc. (IANA 299) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from Feb 25, 2014 to Jun 30, 2014.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
MarkMonitor, Inc.Jul 7, 2016 – Sep 29, 2016Registrar MarkMonitor, Inc. (IANA 292) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from Jul 7, 2016 to Sep 29, 2016.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
ENOM, INC.ENOM, INC.Oct 27, 2016 – Nov 6, 2026 (latest)Registrar ENOM, INC. (IANA 48) in the registration data recorded, first on Oct 27, 2016 and most recently on Nov 6, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Oct 25, 2026
Registrant changeSep 30, 2007The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Sep 30, 2007. 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 changeDec 18, 2013The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Dec 18, 2013. 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 changeFeb 25, 2014The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Feb 25, 2014. 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 changeApr 15, 2014The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Apr 15, 2014. 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 7, 2016The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jul 7, 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: Amazon Route 53Feb 27, 2012 – Oct 17, 2013Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1418.awsdns-49.org, ns-153.awsdns-19.com, ns-1820.awsdns-35.co.uk…) for howstuffworks.com from Feb 27, 2012 to Oct 17, 2013. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to Amazon Route 53Feb 27, 2012howstuffworks.com's nameservers moved from howstuffworks.com to Amazon Route 53 at some point between Jul 28, 2009 and Feb 27, 2012. Last seen at howstuffworks.com: Jul 28, 2009 (registration record). First seen at Amazon Route 53: Feb 27, 2012 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the about 3 years 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: Amazon Route 53Oct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018Amazon Route 53 (ns-1418.awsdns-49.org, ns-153.awsdns-19.com, ns-1820.awsdns-35.co.uk…) were the nameservers listed for howstuffworks.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)
Nameservers: Amazon Route 53Nameservers: Amazon Route 53Apr 4, 2018 – Jun 24, 2026Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1418.awsdns-49.org, ns-153.awsdns-19.com, ns-1820.awsdns-35.co.uk…) for howstuffworks.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Jun 24, 2026. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Seen in the .com zone fileSep 8, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 (latest)First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Nov 1, 2026. Nameservers on Nov 1, 2026: ns-1026.awsdns-00.org, ns-1723.awsdns-23.co.uk, ns-230.awsdns-28.com, ns-514.awsdns-00.net.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 1, 2026
Amazon
Oct 18, 2017 – Nov 7, 2026 (latest)
Amazon issued 154 certificates for howstuffworks.com from Oct 18, 2017, the latest valid until May 24, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 25, 2026.
Source: Certificate Transparency logs (crt.sh + AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 25, 2026
Let's EncryptApr 20, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Let's Encrypt issued 32 certificates for howstuffworks.com from Apr 20, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 26, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
May 11, 2007 – Jul 28, 2009
Zone file: Registration records listed howstuffworks.com nameservers (auth-ns1.howstuffworks.com, auth-ns2.howstuffworks.com) for howstuffworks.com from May 11, 2007 to Jul 28, 2009.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Sep 30, 2007Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Sep 30, 2007. 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
Feb 27, 2012 – Sep 9, 2012Registrar: Registrar MELBOURNE IT, LTD. D/B/A INTERNET NAMES WORLDWIDE in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from Feb 27, 2012 to Sep 9, 2012.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Feb 27, 2012 – Oct 17, 2013Zone file: Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1418.awsdns-49.org, ns-153.awsdns-19.com, ns-1820.awsdns-35.co.uk…) for howstuffworks.com from Feb 27, 2012 to Oct 17, 2013. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Feb 27, 2012Zone file: howstuffworks.com's nameservers moved from howstuffworks.com to Amazon Route 53 at some point between Jul 28, 2009 and Feb 27, 2012. Last seen at howstuffworks.com: Jul 28, 2009 (registration record). First seen at Amazon Route 53: Feb 27, 2012 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the about 3 years 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 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018Zone file: Amazon Route 53 (ns-1418.awsdns-49.org, ns-153.awsdns-19.com, ns-1820.awsdns-35.co.uk…) were the nameservers listed for howstuffworks.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)
Dec 18, 2013 – Feb 18, 2014Registrar: Registrar Melbourne IT Ltd (IANA 13) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from Dec 18, 2013 to Feb 18, 2014.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Dec 18, 2013Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Dec 18, 2013. 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
Feb 25, 2014 – Jun 30, 2014Registrar: Registrar CSC Corporate Domains, Inc. (IANA 299) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from Feb 25, 2014 to Jun 30, 2014.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Feb 25, 2014Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Feb 25, 2014. 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 15, 2014Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Apr 15, 2014. 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 17, 2015 – Nov 11, 2022Certificate: DigiCert Inc issued 6 certificates for howstuffworks.com from Aug 17, 2015, the latest valid until Nov 11, 2022.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (crt.sh)
Jul 7, 2016 – Sep 29, 2016Registrar: Registrar MarkMonitor, Inc. (IANA 292) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for howstuffworks.com, from Jul 7, 2016 to Sep 29, 2016.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Jul 7, 2016Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jul 7, 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
Oct 27, 2016 – Nov 6, 2026Registrar: Registrar ENOM, INC. (IANA 48) in the registration data recorded, first on Oct 27, 2016 and most recently on Nov 6, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Oct 25, 2026
Oct 18, 2017 – Nov 7, 2026Certificate: Amazon issued 154 certificates for howstuffworks.com from Oct 18, 2017, the latest valid until May 24, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 25, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (crt.sh + AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 25, 2026
Apr 4, 2018 – Jun 24, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1418.awsdns-49.org, ns-153.awsdns-19.com, ns-1820.awsdns-35.co.uk…) for howstuffworks.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Jun 24, 2026. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Apr 20, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 32 certificates for howstuffworks.com from Apr 20, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 26, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 17, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 1, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Sep 8, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026Zone file: First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Nov 1, 2026. Nameservers on Nov 1, 2026: ns-1026.awsdns-00.org, ns-1723.awsdns-23.co.uk, ns-230.awsdns-28.com, ns-514.awsdns-00.net.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 1, 2026
No caution flags in the available scoring observations; this is not a complete safety assessment