Security Review

Is files.pythonhosted.org legit or a scam?

Our verdict:Safe· 95/100

Official Python Package Index (PyPI) file-hosting infrastructure operated by the Python Software Foundation with over 13 years of established history.

files.pythonhosted.orgScanned 1h ago
0
Trust score
SAFE
Heuristics 95·MT 95
View density

Analysis Summary

Threat Intelligence
0/92
All engines report clean
Domain Age
13 years old
Registered Feb 6, 2013
MT Intelligence
Safe
Low likelihood · 98% confidence
SAFE

No threats detected

All checks passed. This site appears legitimate — but always stay alert for phishing even on trusted domains.

Website Preview

Screenshot of files.pythonhosted.org
LIVE RENDER
files.pythonhosted.org

Automated page render — captured in a safe sandbox. What an ordinary visitor would see when loading the site.

MT Intelligence

Advanced threat intelligence
MT Security Analyst
Low scam likelihoodengineMT · Guardiantrust95/100
MT AgentLive web researchVisual inspection
0%
Confidence
The domain is the legitimate, official CDN used to host packages and documentation for the Python community. Our analysis confirms it is owned and operated by the Python Software Foundation, a registered non-profit. The domain has been active for over 13 years and is integrated into the standard 'pip' installation workflow used by millions of developers. While some security sandboxes may flag specific files hosted here, this is because the platform allows users to upload code, some of which may be malicious; the domain itself is a trusted utility. All technical signals, including SSL validity and hosting reputation, are consistent with a high-traffic, professional service.
Full dossier
Analysis complete

Page Content

The site serves as a backend storage layer for the Python Package Index. It does not host a traditional user-facing storefront but instead provides the direct download links for software libraries.

Infrastructure

The domain is hosted on high-performance IP addresses with a clean reputation and no significant abuse history. It utilizes a valid GlobalSign SSL certificate and maintains 100% uptime as verified by official status monitors.

Domain History

Registered in early 2013, the domain has a long-standing history of serving the open-source community. It is managed through Gandi SAS and is explicitly linked to the Python Software Foundation's legal and operational policies.

Web Reputation

The domain is universally recognized as a core component of the Python ecosystem. It is referenced in thousands of official documentation pages and technical guides as the authoritative source for package files.
Risk Factors
2
  • Third-party content: Because anyone can upload to PyPI, individual files hosted here may occasionally contain malware.
  • Impersonation target: Attackers frequently create 'typosquat' domains that look similar to this one to trick users.
Positive Signals
4
  • Official infrastructure: Confirmed as the primary file host for the Python Software Foundation.
  • Long-term stability: Domain has been active and consistent for over 13 years.
  • Clean engine scan: 0 out of 92 antivirus engines flagged the domain as malicious.
  • High trust consensus: Recognized as a legitimate service by major technical and legal documentation.
AI Recommendation
This is a safe and official domain. You can safely download Python packages from this host when using standard tools like pip.
Next-gen fraud intelligence
Evidence-backedCross-checked

Web Research Findings

Our live research agent queries scam-report databases, consumer-review sites, news coverage, and general web search for files.pythonhosted.org, then cross-checks business-registration records and look-alike domain patterns. Everything below is pulled from what it actually found.

Domain age
13 yrs
Registered Feb 2013
Business registration
Active · United States
Site traces back to an actively registered business.
Clone check
Not a clone
No well-known site's layout or branding detected here.
Typosquat check
No look-alike match
The domain doesn't resemble any well-known brand's spelling.
Web mentions
2 scam reports · 3 positive
Key findings
7 headline facts from open-web research
  • files.pythonhosted.org is the official CDN/hosting domain for Python packages and documentation uploaded to the Python Package Index (PyPI), operated by the Python Software Foundation (PSF).
  • pythonhosted.org registered on 2013-02-07 (over 13 years old), expires 2027-02-07, registrar Gandi SAS, name servers on AWS.
  • Explicitly listed as operational with 100% uptime on status.python.org as part of PyPI infrastructure.
  • PSF legal notice states it hosts third-party content, does not claim ownership, and requires compliance with US export controls.
  • Frequently referenced in official PyPI documentation, pip usage, and PSF policies as a trusted host for package downloads.
  • Attackers have used typosquats of this domain (e.g. files.pypihosted.org) and spoofed references to it in malicious PyPI packages to appear legitimate.
  • Some sandbox reports flag the domain in malware analysis contexts, likely because it hosts packages that may contain or be used in malicious campaigns.
Scam reports (2)
Direct quotes from public scam databases, forums, and news.
  • any.runopen

    "Online sandbox report for https://files.pythonhosted.org , verdict: Malicious activity."

  • socdefenders.aiopen

    "The IOC 'files.pythonhosted.org' is associated with malware hosting activities, indicating potential malicious use of this domain."

Positive reviews (3)
Quotes indicating the site is legitimate.
  • pythonhosted.orgopen

    "This site hosts packages and documentation uploaded by authors of packages on the Python Package Index."

  • status.python.orgopen

    "files.pythonhosted.org - Files ? Operational. 100.0 % uptime"

  • policies.python.orgopen

    "It also refers to python.org, pyfound.org, pythonhosted.org, and other subdomains of PSF-owned domains."

Business registration
Status: active · United States

Operated by Python Software Foundation (PSF); pythonhosted.org registered 2013-02-07, expires 2027-02-07 via Gandi SAS; official PyPI file hosting infrastructure

Research summary
Narrative write-up from our AI analyst, grounded on the facts above
Our research confirms this domain is the official hosting platform for PyPI (Python Package Index) files. It is operated by the Python Software Foundation and is a standard part of the Python development ecosystem. Although some malware analysis platforms flag the URL, this is typically due to the analysis of specific malicious packages hosted on the platform by third-party users, rather than a reflection of the domain's intent. Official status pages and legal policies from python.org explicitly list this domain as part of their verified infrastructure.

Antivirus Engines

Clean pass · verified
Clean across 92 engines

We cross-check every URL against our antivirus network of 92 malware and blacklist engines. None of them flagged this URL in the last scan.

0Malicious0Suspicious60Harmless92Engines
Clean
Kaspersky
Clean
Bitdefender
Clean
Microsoft
Not in pass
ESET-NOD32
Not in pass
Avira
Not in pass
Sophos
Clean
Fortinet
Clean
Google Safebrowsing
Clean
Emsisoft
Clean

No engine detections. The URL passed every antivirus and blacklist engine we queried in this scan. Stay vigilant — AV coverage is only one signal among many.

Security Scans

Blacklist Check
Not flagged on major threat lists

Checked against the major public blocklists used by browsers and security tools — no hits.

Domain & Encryption

Domain History
Age13 years old
RegistrarGandi SAS
RegisteredFeb 6, 2013
ExpiresFeb 6, 2027
Owner privacyVisible
Encryption Certificate
StatusValid
ProtocolTLSv1.3
IssuerGlobalSign nv-sa · GlobalSign Atlas R3 DV TLS CA 2025 Q4
ExpiresJan 9, 2027 (191d)
Self-signedNo
Hosting & Technology
HostingFastly, Inc.
Server locationUS

Server Reputation

Abuse Intelligence
Confidence score0%
Reports on file3
ISPFastly, Inc.
Usage typeContent Delivery Network

Still, stay alert

No major threat indicators — but a clean scan does not guarantee every page is safe, and phishing emails routinely spoof real domains.

  • Double-check the exact URL in your address bar

    Confirm you are actually on files.pythonhosted.org and not a lookalike like f-iles.pythonhosted.org.com or an IDN homoglyph.

  • Use a password manager

    Password managers only auto-fill on the exact domain they were saved for — they refuse to fill lookalike domains, which is the single best phishing defence.

  • Discuss this site on the forum

    If you have first-hand experience with this site — good or bad — share it with the MalwareTips community.

    Open

Reputation Sources

How this domain rates across independent threat-intelligence and blocklist providers.

Google Safe Browsing
Not listedCheck ↗
VirusTotal
Not listedCheck ↗
AbuseIPDB
Not listedCheck ↗

Safety FAQ

Common questions about this site, answered directly from the scan data above — so the answers always reflect the latest verdict on this page.

  • Our automated security review found no threat indicators on files.pythonhosted.org. The site appears legitimate based on the signals we checked, but always stay alert for phishing emails that spoof real domains.
  • files.pythonhosted.org passed our automated security checks with a trust score of 95/100. No antivirus engines or major blacklists flagged the site at the time of the last scan.
  • Yes. files.pythonhosted.org presents a valid TLSv1.3 certificate issued by GlobalSign nv-sa · GlobalSign Atlas R3 DV TLS CA 2025 Q4, expiring in 191 days. Note that SSL only encrypts the connection — it does not guarantee that the site itself is trustworthy.
  • files.pythonhosted.org is 13.4 years old, registered on 2/6/2013 through Gandi SAS. Scam domains are often freshly registered — a site under 6 months old warrants extra caution.
  • No. All 92 antivirus engines in our malware network report files.pythonhosted.org as clean.
  • No. files.pythonhosted.org is not currently listed on the major browser blocklist feeds that modern browsers use.
  • files.pythonhosted.org resolves to an IP operated by Fastly, Inc. in US (usage type: Content Delivery Network). Hosting location alone doesn't make a site good or bad, but unusual geography for a brand's claimed country is one of many signals we weigh.
  • This is a permanent record of the scan run on July 1, 2026. The verdict and evidence above reflect that scan and do not change on their own. If circumstances around files.pythonhosted.org have changed, MalwareTips staff can run a fresh scan, which re-runs every check from scratch and publishes an updated report.

Final Verdict

0
Trust / 100
Final Verdict·files.pythonhosted.org
SAFE

This is the official file-hosting domain for the Python Package Index (PyPI), the primary repository for Python software. It is a critical piece of global internet infrastructure operated by the Python Software Foundation.

This is a safe and official domain. You can safely download Python packages from this host when using standard tools like pip.

AV engines
92
MT passes
2
Net signals
0
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This report is generated automatically by combining threat intelligence, domain signals, and an AI security analyst. It is informational, not legal advice. Always use your own judgement before sharing personal information or money online.