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Domain Due Diligence

Report for Photos.app.goo.gl

Report Date
October 18, 2025
Recommendation
Proceed
Overall Summary
Safe
  Why we think so? 

Photos.app.goo.gl is an official Google domain used for sharing photos via Google Photos. It uses valid SSL certificates and is hosted on Google IP addresses. The domain is safe and not blacklisted, but has been exploited as a lure in phishing scams that trick users into revealing their Google credentials. There are no direct reports of the domain itself being fraudulent. Legal disputes mainly concern Google Photos’ biometric data practices, which the company has successfully defended. Social media scams using fake sharing links have caused indirect financial loss through credential theft. Users should be cautious with unexpected sharing requests and verify links before entering login information.

Confidence Score
85%

Risk Insights

🛡️

Secure and Official Google Domain 🛡️

  • Photos.app.goo.gl uses valid Google-issued SSL certificates
  • Hosted on IP addresses owned by Google
  • No blacklist or malware detected
⚠️

Phishing Risks Exist ⚠️

  • Scammers send fake Google Photos sharing links to steal credentials
  • Losses occur mainly from compromised accounts, not from the domain itself
  • Be cautious with unexpected sharing requests

Contradictory Signals

While photos.app.goo.gl is legitimate, threat actors exploit it for fake sharing links to steal credentials.

Signal A: Domain is official and secure

Signal B: Domain links are used in phishing scams

Category Scores

Red Flags & Warnings

  • Phishing scams have used photos.app.goo.gl links to lure users into credential theft.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain and SSL status

Score: 90/100
Passed

"SSL issued by WE2 is valid and current, confirming secure connections to the domain."

Reason: Valid SSL certificates issued and domain hosted on Google's infrastructure.

Blacklist and malware checks

Score: 90/100
Passed

"Domain is clear of any security blocking or malware flags."

Reason: No blacklist or malware detections on Google Safe Browsing or crypto scam lists.

Reputation and reviews

Score: 80/100
Passed

"Phishing scams exploit links but do not implicate the domain's official status."

Reason: No credible reports label the domain fraudulent; it is recognized as official Google service.

Legal and compliance status

Score: 75/100
Passed

"No major unresolved legal issues that affect domain's legitimacy."

Reason: Legal disputes on biometric data were resolved in Google's favor with no ongoing litigation.

Your Next Steps

  • 1

    Do not click on unexpected or suspicious Google Photos sharing links without verifying the sender.

  • 2

    Use official Google Photos app or website to access shared albums rather than links received in unsolicited messages.

  • 3

    Enable two-factor authentication on your Google account to protect against credential theft.

  • 4

    Report any suspected phishing attempts impersonating Google Photos to Google and cybersecurity authorities.

Evidence & Citations

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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