Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is skeptic.com 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 skeptic.com?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for skeptic.com. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
Lifeline · skeptic.com over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
On AboutUs since 2006 · 2 registrar changes since Jul 19, 2007 · 1 registrant change since 2007 · last checked Nov 1, 2026.
Registration
No registration date on file yet. AboutUs reads it from RDAP when the site is checked.
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 21, 2006 – Nov 5, 2013An AboutUs wiki page described skeptic.com from Jun 21, 2006 to Nov 5, 2013 (3 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023Said about itself in 2006Jul 1, 2006“The Skeptics Society is a scientific and educational organization of scholars, scientists, historians, magicians, professors and teachers, and anyone curious about controversial ideas, extraordinary claims, revolutionar…”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Registrar
TUCOWS, INC.TUCOWS, INC.Jul 19, 2007 – May 18, 2022Registrar TUCOWS, INC. (IANA 69) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for skeptic.com, from Jul 19, 2007 to May 18, 2022.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)Wild West Domains, LLCAug 30, 2022 – Feb 25, 2025
Registrant
Registrant recordsJul 19, 2007 – Jun 26, 2026Registration records for skeptic.com are held from Jul 19, 2007 to Jun 26, 2026 (134 records). 1 change of registrant name or organization is 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, May 2017 – Apr 2018Nameservers: mediatemple.netNameservers: mediatemple.netJul 19, 2007 – Oct 17, 2013Registration records listed mediatemple.net nameservers (ns1.mediatemple.net, ns2.mediatemple.net) for skeptic.com from Jul 19, 2007 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)
Certificate
Let's EncryptApr 13, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Let's Encrypt issued 18 certificates for skeptic.com from Apr 13, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 1, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)Google Trust ServicesApr 24, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026
2010201520202025Apr ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (18)
Jun 21, 2006 – Nov 5, 2013AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described skeptic.com from Jun 21, 2006 to Nov 5, 2013 (3 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “The Skeptics Society is a scientific and educational organization of scholars, scientists, historians, magicians, professors and teachers, and anyone curious about controversial ideas, extraordinary claims, revolutionar…”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Jul 19, 2007 – May 18, 2022Registrar: Registrar TUCOWS, INC. (IANA 69) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for skeptic.com, from Jul 19, 2007 to May 18, 2022.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Jul 19, 2007 – Jun 26, 2026Registrant: Registration records for skeptic.com are held from Jul 19, 2007 to Jun 26, 2026 (134 records). 1 change of registrant name or organization is 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
Jul 19, 2007 – Oct 17, 2013Zone file: Registration records listed mediatemple.net nameservers (ns1.mediatemple.net, ns2.mediatemple.net) for skeptic.com from Jul 19, 2007 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)
Current AboutUs recordJun 22, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 21, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Registrar Wild West Domains, LLC (IANA 440) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for skeptic.com, from Aug 30, 2022 to Feb 25, 2025.
Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Cloudflare, Inc.Cloudflare, Inc.May 29, 2025 – Nov 3, 2026 (latest)Registrar Cloudflare, Inc. (IANA 1910) in the registration data recorded, first on May 29, 2025 and most recently on Nov 3, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Jun 22, 2026
Registrant changeMar 18, 2011The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Mar 18, 2011. 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
1 registrant change, 2007–2026
Nameservers: mediatemple.netOct 18, 2013 – Apr 1, 2016mediatemple.net (ns1.mediatemple.net, ns2.mediatemple.net) were the nameservers listed for skeptic.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Oct 18, 2013 to Apr 1, 2016 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
Nameservers: mediatemple.netApr 2, 2016 – May 17, 2017Registration records listed mediatemple.net nameservers (ns1.mediatemple.net, ns2.mediatemple.net) for skeptic.com from Apr 2, 2016 to May 17, 2017. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nameservers: CloudflareApr 3, 2018Cloudflare (ivan.ns.cloudflare.com, nina.ns.cloudflare.com) were the nameservers listed for skeptic.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Apr 3, 2018 to Apr 3, 2018 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
DNS moved to CloudflareApr 3, 2018skeptic.com's nameservers moved from mediatemple.net to Cloudflare at some point between May 17, 2017 and Apr 3, 2018. Last seen at mediatemple.net: May 17, 2017 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Apr 3, 2018 (ICANN zone-file snapshot). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 11 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: CloudflareNameservers: CloudflareAug 4, 2018 – Jun 26, 2026Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (ivan.ns.cloudflare.com, nina.ns.cloudflare.com) for skeptic.com from Aug 4, 2018 to Jun 26, 2026.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: ivan.ns.cloudflare.com, nina.ns.cloudflare.com. DNSSEC signed on Nov 1, 2026.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 1, 2026
Google Trust Services issued 26 certificates for skeptic.com from Apr 24, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 31, 2027.
Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
CertainlyJun 20, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Certainly issued 8 certificates for skeptic.com from Jun 20, 2026, the latest valid until Dec 7, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Mar 18, 2011Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Mar 18, 2011. 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 18, 2013 – Apr 1, 2016Zone file: mediatemple.net (ns1.mediatemple.net, ns2.mediatemple.net) were the nameservers listed for skeptic.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Oct 18, 2013 to Apr 1, 2016 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
Apr 2, 2016 – May 17, 2017Zone file: Registration records listed mediatemple.net nameservers (ns1.mediatemple.net, ns2.mediatemple.net) for skeptic.com from Apr 2, 2016 to May 17, 2017. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Apr 3, 2018Zone file: Cloudflare (ivan.ns.cloudflare.com, nina.ns.cloudflare.com) were the nameservers listed for skeptic.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Apr 3, 2018 to Apr 3, 2018 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
Apr 3, 2018Zone file: skeptic.com's nameservers moved from mediatemple.net to Cloudflare at some point between May 17, 2017 and Apr 3, 2018. Last seen at mediatemple.net: May 17, 2017 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Apr 3, 2018 (ICANN zone-file snapshot). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 11 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)
Aug 4, 2018 – Jun 26, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (ivan.ns.cloudflare.com, nina.ns.cloudflare.com) for skeptic.com from Aug 4, 2018 to Jun 26, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Aug 30, 2022 – Feb 25, 2025Registrar: Registrar Wild West Domains, LLC (IANA 440) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for skeptic.com, from Aug 30, 2022 to Feb 25, 2025.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
May 29, 2025 – Nov 3, 2026Registrar: Registrar Cloudflare, Inc. (IANA 1910) in the registration data recorded, first on May 29, 2025 and most recently on Nov 3, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Jun 22, 2026
Apr 13, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 18 certificates for skeptic.com from Apr 13, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 1, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Apr 24, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 26 certificates for skeptic.com from Apr 24, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 31, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 20, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Certificate: Certainly issued 8 certificates for skeptic.com from Jun 20, 2026, the latest valid until Dec 7, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 22, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 21, 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: ivan.ns.cloudflare.com, nina.ns.cloudflare.com. DNSSEC signed on Nov 1, 2026.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 1, 2026
3 of 4 safety checks passed (Nov 7, 2026).
Registered 1994 · site is live · HTTPS valid
Skeptic.com The Skeptic's Society and Skeptic's Magazine
The Skeptics Society is a scientific and educational organization of scholars, scientists, historians, magicians, professors and teachers, and anyone curious about controversial ideas, extraordinary claims, revolutionary ideas, and the promotion of science.
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 Dec 19, 1994 — 31 years old.
latest result
Registrar on record: Cloudflare, Inc. — unchanged since AboutUs began tracking (Aug 29, 2026).
latest result
HTTPS request succeeded for www.skeptic.com.
checked Sep 30, 2026
The site names Skeptic magazine as the organisation behind it.
checked Sep 30, 2026
The live front page reads as a news or media site that is funded by donations or members, mainly for a general audience.
Authority 69/100— ahead of 69% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
69 is a percentile: higher than 69% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #41,491)+7
Verified continuity: 31.9 years (RDAP registration)+11
Identity corroboration (capped)+4
Security & email hygiene+2
Calibration adjustment (published map)+11
Model score: 35/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 69/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
What skeptic.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
The Skeptics Society is a scientific and educational organization of scholars, scientists, historians, magicians, professors and teachers, and anyone curious about controversial ideas, extraordinary claims, revolutionary ideas, and the promotion of science. Our mission is to serve as an educational tool for those seeking clarification and viewpoints on those controversial ideas and claims.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date; self-description below is the 2013 record.
1994
Domain registered (Dec 19, 1994).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 21, 2006); profile edited 3 times through 2013.
2013
Self-description at the time:
“Skeptic.com The Skeptic's Society and Skeptic's Magazine”
✓ domain continuity 31 years registered✓ live verified Nov 7, 2026
Safety evidence
No unexpired threat-feed result; name-similarity check available (recorded about 78 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 78 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