Expectations are growing that the U.S. government is close to releasing records related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life, driving a sharp increase in users searching for such material. As interest rises, warnings are also being raised about expanding risks of personal data exposure and malware infection.

On April 29, local time, IT outlet TechRadar reported that the U.S. government recently registered the domains alien.gov and aliens.gov. The industry views these addresses as likely to be used as key channels for the future release of official records related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

U.S. President Donald Trump (도널드 트럼프) also recently mentioned the release of related records, saying “tremendous interest is being focused.” On timing, he said it would happen “very, very soon.”

For now, the official material accessible to the general public centers on the UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) page of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and declassified documents posted on the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) website.

The problem is that as expectations for disclosure grow, security threats through unofficial channels are also increasing. Third-party sites promoting files related to UFOs or aliens have been growing quickly, and some are assessed to be distributing malware or operating to collect personal information while claiming to offer leaked documents. Experts therefore recommended that users searching for related material use only official government .gov domains and avoid downloading files from unclear sources.

The possibility of user tracking is also emerging as a major concern. Unlike general searches, when exploring sensitive topics such as UFOs and extraterrestrial life, internet service providers can view search records and data brokers may collect and analyse users’ interests. TechRadar said, “Just because the records are public does not mean they need to be publicly exposed,” stressing the need to protect online anonymity.

As a security measure, the use of a VPN was presented first. A VPN encrypts internet traffic, making it difficult for an internet service provider or third parties to see government database visit records and search history. The report also mentioned enabling a “kill switch” to prevent information leaks when a connection drops, along with using multi-hop or “Tor over VPN” functions. It cited the OpenVPN TCP method as a security protocol.

Security risks in the document download process were also highlighted. Even on official sites, the possibility of file tampering cannot be completely ruled out, and unofficial mirror sites carry higher malware risks, it said. It recommended using a separate antivirus program in addition to browser security features, because it can provide additional scans for threats that are difficult to detect with a browser alone.

Browser choice was also cited as an important factor. Browsers such as Firefox and Brave that can strengthen privacy protections were assessed to help block trackers and minimise browser fingerprint collection. Using the Tor browser as well can increase the effect of hiding IP addresses and location information by routing traffic through volunteer nodes worldwide. TechRadar introduced a setup combining a VPN and the Tor browser as providing the highest level of online anonymity.

A download manager was also mentioned as a supplementary tool to prepare for large document downloads. Some programs can improve transfer speeds and provide functions to check suspicious files before running them. It also noted that this is closer to an additional security filter than a replacement for antivirus software. Ultimately, the analysis said the key in this phase of UFO record disclosure lies in the reliability of access routes and security management, rather than simple curiosity.

As the U.S. government registers new official domains and begins full-scale preparations for disclosure, the report said users should also prioritise basic security rules such as confirming government sites, building a safe access environment and verifying files.