When a business relationship ends up in court—or when a debtor denies visibility on a directory—the dispute quickly becomes: “prove that our data was really published on your website on that date.” This is exactly what our Certified Web Content service is designed to solve.

Before issuing a quotation or starting a forensic certification, we identify which historical sources are actually available. Not all proof is equal: a Wayback Machine capture is much stronger than a screenshot; an automated hosting backup with a provider timestamp is stronger than “we saw it online”.

Below we explain how to prove a page existed in the past, which sources are most reliable, and what we need to build a forensic-grade, lawyer-ready package you can use with courts, lawyers, arbitrators, payment platforms, and marketplaces.

Why a Timestamp Alone Is Not Enough

We often hear: “we just need an eIDAS qualified timestamp; it’s cheap.” A timestamp proves the time, not the content. It answers “when?”—but not “what exactly was captured?”, “from where?” or “by whom and how?”.

A timestamp applied to a random file only says: “this file existed at a certain time.” It does not attest that the file was truly downloaded from https://example.com/page, that it belonged to a specific listing, or that it wasn’t modified before sealing.

Our deliverable is different: a complete, documented, reproducible acquisition (HTML, source, resources, headers), followed by hashing, followed by a qualified RFC 3161 timestamp, digitally signed, and accompanied by a forensic report. The timestamp is one link in a full chain of custody.

The Six Main Sources of Historical Evidence

These are the sources we assess to prove past publication of a page, listing, or policy. For each one you will find what we need to proceed.

1) Pages archived on independent public websites (strongest)

When an external service captured the page on its own, that’s usually the strongest and most neutral proof.

What we need: the exact URL of the original page and the direct link to the archived snapshot(s).

We will forensically acquire the archive snapshot (as preserved by the archive), seal it with digital signature and qualified timestamp, and report all relevant metadata and limits.

2) Page still online but not archived

If the page is still live, we can certify it as it is today. We acquire:

  • HTML + embedded resources (images, CSS/JS, documents)
  • HTTP headers and technical context
  • Visible metadata (publication/updated dates, canonical URL, Open Graph)

We then compute cryptographic hashes (e.g., SHA-256), apply the qualified timestamp, sign the package, and produce a lawyer-ready report distinguishing forensic date (when we acquired/signed) vs. declared date (printed on the page by the site).

What we need: the current working URL(s) and a short description of the legal context (so we can tailor the report).

3) Images/files with dated paths (CMS traces)

CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress) often store media in /uploads/YYYY/MM/. A file at /uploads/2023/09/logo.png couldn’t pre-date Sep 2023, which is a technical clue that we can document.

What we need: the direct URL of the file and, if known, the CMS context.

4) Controlled read-only access to hosting/FTP

If the site changed or is offline, the truth may be in the hosting environment. With temporary, read-only access we can:

  • list/export files with timestamps;
  • locate historic folders or residual listing pages;
  • download automatic provider backups (often strongly timestamped);
  • check DB records for the listing and date fields.

What we need: temp credentials (FTP/cPanel/Plesk), written authorization, and any DB/table hints.

5) Documentary evidence and party communications

Emails and messages frequently prove publication (e.g., “your profile is online at …”). We can certify:

  • Original emails in .eml/.msg
  • WhatsApp/Telegram threads mentioning the URL (remote certification available: WhatsApp chat certification)
  • Social posts announcing the page

6) Technical/external traces (OSINT)

When nothing else remains, we look for residual traces:

  • Google/Bing cached copies
  • Backlinks or mirrors referencing the listing
  • Indexed structured data (schema.org/JSON-LD)
  • WHOIS/DNS history in the relevant timeframe

 

Deliverables & Legal Validity

  • Certified Copy sealed in .zip.p7m or .tsd, digitally signed and qualified time-stamped (RFC 3161)
  • Technical report (method, scope/limits, chain of custody, hashes)
  • Acquisition artifacts: full URLs, page content + source, headers/metadata, linked files; network packets and capture video where applicable
  • Independent checks: read-only mirror link and file verification code for courts/LEAs

International framework: evidence is sealed with EU eIDAS qualified timestamp + digital signature. Our packages are commonly assessed/accepted in US/UK/CA/AU and other jurisdictions with equivalent standards. Within the EU, eIDAS provides full probative value.

What You Should Do Now

  1. Check public archives (start with Wayback Machine).
  2. List any live URLs still online.
  3. Collect emails/messages confirming publication (provide EML/MSG).
  4. If the old site is gone, request hosting backups/access.
  5. Send everything in one message via our Free Estimate form.

We will review feasibility, advise on the safest workflow, and quote the certification that best supports your legal strategy.

Contact

Service by Informatica in Azienda – Digital Forensics & Cyber Evidence Division
Contact Us: https://www.certifywebcontent.com/
WhatsApp/chat certifications (remote): https://www.certifywebcontent.com/service/whatsapp-and-telegram-chat-certification/

It is important to remember that the earlier the evidence is collected, the higher its probative value will be…