There are a few drawbacks to OSINT. It is one of the most difficult tasks for employees to get important information without violating privacy regulations. Data subjects should be consulted before any action is taken with their information.
These issues can be overcome by providing OSINT collection teams with a wide range of tools. The following are 10 open source intelligence tools that they may want to consider that are listed below. (This is not a ranking of these tools; they are arranged in alphabetical order.)
1. BuiltWith
There are a variety of tech stacks and platforms that can be accessed with BuiltWith. A list of the JavaScript/CSS libraries, plugins, and other tools utilised by the website in question is also produced using this software. Once that’s done, employees may use it to fix WordPress’s flaws and install the latest versions of plugins.
2. Creepy
From social networking sites to image hosting facilities, Creepy is an OSINT application built in Python. That data may now be shown on a map. If that isn’t enough, Google Maps users may also download the results in CSV or KML format.
3. theHarvester
Using a variety of public data sources, theHarvester may be used to acquire information such as e-mail subdomains, IP addresses, and URLs. TheHarvester may use search engines like DuckDuckGo and Google passively. In addition, it can undertake DNS brute-forcing and take screenshots of any subdomains it comes across.
4. Maltego
Maltego is a graphical link analysis application for Java that operates on Windows, Linux, and macOS-powered devices. It aids investigators in gathering and connecting OSINT. When analysing the information they’ve discovered, Maltego’s users have access to 58 data connectors from over 35 different data sources, as well as four distinct layouts from which to pick.
5. Metagoofil
When it comes to public documents like PDFs and Microsoft Office files, Metagoofil’s usefulness resides in its capacity to extract metadata. Downloading the papers on your computer is accomplished by utilising a Google search engine. That’s when it uses Hachoir, PdfMiner, and other libraries to extract metadata from the files.
6. Recon-ng
Recon-ng is a web-based open-source reconnaissance framework that stands out from the others. It facilitates the usage of modules to carry out reconnaissance activities. Several built-in modules in Recon-ng assist users in discovering other domains associated with a target domain.
7. Shodan
Using Shodan, anyone may search the web for internet-enabled gadgets. Shodan’s scans disclose assets like the Internet of Things (IoT) items, which aren’t often revealed by websites. As a result of Shodan, a group’s devices have better insight into one another and their software is always up to date.
8. SpiderFoot
It is possible to utilise SpiderFoot to automate the collection of OSINT on Linux and Windows-based workstations. Over 200 modules for data collecting and analysis are included in this open-source reconnaissance programme. These low-hanging fruit, such as unmanaged assets and exposed credentials, may provide them with an overall picture of their attack surfaces and help them prepare.
9. Spyse
Spyse’s database of online assets has more than 25 billion entries, making it easy for users to get information on websites, servers, and other web-connected equipment. There are several ways that security teams may utilise this information to search for dangers and suspicious relationships between those places.
10. TinEye
Instead of conducting forward image searches, TinEye does backward image searches. It can assist in the control of online content and the detection of brand-related fraud. Additionally, TinEye may be used by teams to track the locations where these photographs appear on the internet.
