What is a.akamai.hd.net?

[Braiboo99]

So when I copy and paste an image url to another message the link is for a.akamai.hd.net and I heard this is used to distribute viruses but I also heard its used by big companys as well. Is this safe?

[Drab]

You could just google it and set your mind at ease.

[Braiboo99]

Originally posted by Drab:

You could just google it and set your mind at ease.

Have done gives me different answers, some say it virus others say its used by a wide range of companys

[Reggaejunkiedrew]

It's just a CDN. It's a way for a website to store content such as images without storing them in house. Anyone telling you it's used to distribute viruses in an idiot, technically it might be possible but it's no different then cloudflare, AWS or any website at all for that matter.

[Aachen]

Please do source that “Akamai distributes viruses” you read.

[ShelLuser]

It's just an URL pointing to a website. Also noteworthy, the real name is: steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net which should make it pretty obvious what this is all about. Figured I'd share since your name doesn't exist.

[Braiboo99]

Originally posted by ShelLuser:

It's just an URL pointing to a website. Also noteworthy, the real name is: steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net which should make it pretty obvious what this is all about. Figured I'd share since your name doesn't exist.

Cool thank you. What do you mean my name does not exist?

[Braiboo99]

Originally posted by Reggaejunkiedrew:

It's just a CDN. It's a way for a website to store content such as images without storing them in house. Anyone telling you it's used to distribute viruses in an idiot, technically it might be possible but it's no different then cloudflare, AWS or any website at all for that matter.

Cool thank you very much

[Aachen]

Originally posted by Braiboo99:

Cool thank you. What do you mean my name does not exist?

steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net versus a.akamai.hd.net (from your OP)

[Braiboo99]

Originally posted by Aachen:

Originally posted by Braiboo99:

Cool thank you. What do you mean my name does not exist?

steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net versus a.akamai.hd.net (from your OP)

Oh ok thank you, just used the end part of the url as it was the part I was most concerned with.

[Judgmental Amaterasu]

Originally posted by Braiboo99:

Originally posted by Aachen:

steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net versus a.akamai.hd.net (from your OP)

Oh ok thank you, just used the end part of the url as it was the part I was most concerned with.

You have to look at a url as a whole. Not just cherry pick parts that make you pee a little.

[[N]ebsun]

Originally posted by Braiboo99:

So when I copy and paste an image url to another message the link is for a.akamai.hd.net and I heard this is used to distribute viruses but I also heard its used by big companys as well. Is this safe?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akamai_Technologies

It is used for a whole lot of stuff - Facebook, Steam, pretty much anywhere that wants to offload content delivery from their own servers (like public images that can take a lot of bandwidth but don't really need any business logic applied).

[Crashed]

Originally posted by Braiboo99:

Originally posted by ShelLuser:

It's just an URL pointing to a website. Also noteworthy, the real name is: steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net which should make it pretty obvious what this is all about. Figured I'd share since your name doesn't exist.

Cool thank you. What do you mean my name does not exist?

akamaihd is one word in the domain, no dots there.

[Elucidator]

hm...
https://www.whois.com/whois/hd.net
We can see here that the domain hd.net belongs to hdnet llc.
and if you search deeper, you come across this site; https://www.axs.tv/frequently-asked-questions/
and you see here what the owner is currently doing basically.

The business is basically some kind of television broadcasting site, specializing in music themed things, shows, etc.

edit: a.akamai would be a subdomain in hd.net in your link,
but it seems I cannot ping that, meaning its not on the standard ports if it is something.

(removed some clickables from my post)
Anyway next time you want to know about a site, use a whois service.

[[N]ebsun]

Originally posted by Elucidator:

it seems I cannot ping that, meaning its not on the standard ports if it is something.

ping is connectionless - there is no port, since it is a part of ICMP (separate protocol from the common udp or tcp protocols) - a lot of hosts disable the reply to ICMP traffic to harden against threats.

[Elucidator]

Originally posted by Nebsun:

Originally posted by Elucidator:

it seems I cannot ping that, meaning its not on the standard ports if it is something.

ping is connectionless - there is no port, since it is a part of ICMP (separate protocol from the common udp or tcp protocols) - a lot of hosts disable the reply to ICMP traffic to harden against threats.

I see. I will probably forget that, but interesting. (yes, my memory isn't ... very good nor instant and kinda leak I guess. In case you wanted to teach me that knowledge, in the hopes I would forever remember, yeah... I suspect I may need a reminder later. xd)