OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) refers to the practice of gathering, analyzing, and using publicly available information for intelligence purposes. OSINT research tools can be useful for threat intelligence, as they allow analysts to collect and analyze data from a wide range of sources, including social media, websites, and public databases. Here are ten OSINT research tools that are commonly used for threat intelligence, along with their links to download.
Maltego
Maltego is a commercial open-source intelligence and forensics application that is used for conducting online investigations. It allows users to perform data mining and information gathering from various sources on the internet, including social media platforms, websites, and public databases. Maltego can be used to uncover relationships between different entities, such as individuals, organizations, and websites, and to visualize these relationships in a graphical format. It is often used by law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, and cybersecurity professionals to gather and analyze information for investigations and threat intelligence purposes.
Shodan
Shodan is a search engine that allows users to find internet-connected devices, such as servers, routers, and industrial control systems (ICS), by querying the Shodan database using specific search terms. Shodan is often used by security researchers and professionals to discover and track the use of connected devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) and to identify vulnerabilities in these devices that could potentially be exploited by hackers. It can also be used to monitor the deployment and use of connected devices in various industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and energy.
Shodan collects information about connected devices by scanning the internet for devices that have open ports, which are used to communicate with other devices over the internet. When a device with an open port is discovered, Shodan collects information about the device and adds it to the Shodan database. This information may include the device’s IP address, the operating system it is running, the services it provides, and any other data that is available through the device’s open ports.
Shodan can be used to find specific types of devices or to search for devices that are running certain software or operating systems. It can also be used to find devices that have certain vulnerabilities or that are connected to a particular network or location.
TheHarvester
TheHarvester is a tool that is used to gather information about a target organization or individual from the internet. It is commonly used by security professionals and researchers to gather open-source intelligence (OSINT) for various purposes, including reconnaissance, vulnerability assessment, and threat intelligence.
TheHarvester can be used to gather information from various sources, such as search engines, social media platforms, and public databases. It can be used to gather information about an organization, such as its domain names, email addresses, and subdomains, as well as information about the individuals who work for the organization, such as their names, job titles, and contact information.
TheHarvester is a command-line tool that can be run from a terminal window on a computer running the Linux or macOS operating systems. It is designed to be fast and efficient, and it can gather a large amount of information in a relatively short amount of time. The tool is open-source and is available for free download from various online sources.
Recon-ng
Recon-ng is an open-source reconnaissance tool that is used to gather intelligence about a target from the internet. It is designed to be fast and efficient, and it can gather a large amount of information in a relatively short amount of time. It is commonly used by security professionals and researchers for purposes such as vulnerability assessment, threat intelligence, and penetration testing. Recon-ng is written in Python and is available for free download from various online sources. It has a modular design that allows users to easily add new modules and integrates with other tools and platforms. It can gather information about domain names, email addresses, IP addresses, and individuals associated with a target organization, and it can save and export gathered information in various formats.
SpiderFoot
SpiderFoot is an open-source intelligence (OSINT) and reconnaissance tool that is used to gather information about a target from the internet. It is commonly used by security professionals and researchers to gather intelligence about organizations, individuals, and networks for various purposes, such as vulnerability assessment, threat intelligence, and penetration testing.
SpiderFoot works by using a variety of techniques to gather information from a variety of sources on the internet, including search engines, social media platforms, and public databases. It can be used to gather information about a target organization, such as its domain names, email addresses, and subdomains, as well as information about the individuals who work for the organization, such as their names, job titles, and contact information.
SpiderFoot is a command-line tool that can be run from a terminal window on a computer running the Linux or macOS operating systems. It is designed to be fast and efficient, and it can gather a large amount of information in a relatively short amount of time. The tool is open-source and is available for free download from various online sources.
OSINT Framework
This tool is a collection of resources and tools for conducting OSINT research, including search engines, social media platforms, and other online resources. It can be used to gather intelligence on individuals or groups and to identify possible targets for cyber attacks. The OSINT Framework offers a range of categories, such as people search, domain search, and social media search, to help analysts find the resources they need.
FOCA (Fingerprinting Organizations with Collected Archives)
FOCA is a tool that is used to locate and extract metadata and other hidden information from various types of documents. It is typically used to analyze documents that can be found on the internet, such as Microsoft Office, Open Office, and PDF files, as well as Adobe InDesign and SVG files. FOCA can search for these documents using multiple search engines, including Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. In addition to extracting metadata from online documents, FOCA can also analyze local files and extract EXIF information from graphic files. It is capable of conducting a comprehensive analysis of the information discovered through the URL of a document, even before the file is downloaded.
Creepy
This tool is used to gather data on individuals from social media platforms and other online sources. It can be used to gather intelligence on individuals or groups and to identify possible targets for cyber attacks. Creepy allows analysts to specify the types of data they want to collect and to set limits on the number of results returned. It supports a range of social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Metagoofil
This tool is used to gather data on individuals or organizations from public sources, such as websites and search engines. It can be used to gather intelligence on individuals or groups and to identify possible targets for cyber attacks. Metagoofil allows analysts to specify the types of data they want to collect and to set limits on the number of results returned. It also allows analysts to specify the language of the documents they want to search and to exclude certain file types from the search.
Censys
Censys is a commercial cybersecurity platform that is used to gather and analyze information about internet-connected devices and networks. It is commonly used by security professionals, researchers, and organizations to gather intelligence about the internet infrastructure, identify vulnerabilities, and monitor the deployment and use of connected devices.
Censys collects and maintains a database of information about internet-connected devices by continuously scanning the internet for devices that have open ports, which are used to communicate with other devices over the internet. When a device with an open port is discovered, Censys collects information about the device and adds it to its database. This information may include the device’s IP address, the operating system it is running, the services it provides, and any other data that is available through the device’s open ports.
Censys provides users with various tools and features for searching and analyzing the information in its database, including the ability to search for specific types of devices or to search for devices that are running certain software or operating systems. It also provides users with the ability to view and analyze data about internet infrastructure, such as the deployment and use of different types of devices and protocols. Censys is a commercial service and requires a subscription to access its full range of features and tools.
In Conclusion
OSINT research tools are a valuable resource for threat intelligence analysts, as they allow analysts to collect and analyze data from a wide range of sources. There are a variety of OSINT tools available, each with its own specific use case. Some tools, such as Maltego and Shodan, allow analysts to visualize and analyze relationships between people, organizations, and other entities, while others, such as TheHarvester and Recon-ng, are designed for web reconnaissance and allow analysts to gather data on people and organizations from a variety of sources. Other tools, such as SpiderFoot, OSINT Framework, and FOCA, automate the process of gathering intelligence from a variety of sources, while Creepy, Metagoofil, and Censys focus on specific types of data, such as social media, documents, and internet-connected devices. By using these tools, threat intelligence analysts can gather valuable information and insights that can help them understand and mitigate potential threats.
