We all know very well that getting or gathering any information by using various tools becomes really easy.
In this article, we have discussed various OSINT tools, as if we search over the internet, then there will be many different pages to pop out.
But the most problematic thing is to gather different information from multiple pages for an appropriate target within the project.
Hence, we have accumulated each and every detail about these tools and put them all together in this post, and as a result, we will show you the 10 best OSINT tools.
Generally, OSINT tools are used by pen testers to find possible weaknesses and information in a company’s protection system that is working.
However, tools play a significant role, but without knowing the usage of tools, it would be worthless for the users to use it.
Hence, before moving toward the tools, let’s gain some knowledge about OSINT and why do we need OSINT tools.
What is OSINT?
As we have discussed above that OSINT stands for open-source intelligence, and it refers to a collection of data or information from public sources like companies, organizations, or about people.
Generally, OSINT techniques have been produced from openly available information for the public that is collected, utilized, and distributed at a suitable time to a suitable audience for directing a particular intelligence demand.
The internet is a wide range of sources of data which has enormous advantages and disadvantages as well as.
Hence if we talk about benefits, then we can say that the internet is free to access, and everyone can enjoy or use it until and unless it has been restricted by the organization or by the law.
On the other hand, if we talk about the disadvantages, then let me clarify that anyone with a wicked intention can easily misuse the information which is available on the internet.
Internet information can vary from time to time, like audio, video, text, website information, article or news, etc.
Why do We Need OSINT tools?
After knowing what is OSINT tools, now the question arises why do we need OSINT tools? Suppose there is a situation where you have to find proper information related to a specific topic on the internet.
And for this, you have to do it in two ways, first, you have to analyze and gather all the information about the topic; its kind of laboring and time taking too.
Now, on the other hand, you can simply use the open-source intelligence tools, as the tools are directly connected to the different websites, and check the topic if it’s present or not just in a few seconds.
Hence, now we hope that for you it is clear that it saves a lot of time, and the users get proper information without remembering the information.
And not only that even we can also use various tools to collect all specific information about the topic that we are seeking.
Top 10 Best OSINT Tools 2023
Social Links
Google Dorks
NexVision
TheHarvester
Shodan
Hudson Rock
Maltego
Metagoofil
Recon-Ng
Check Usernames
TinEye
SpiderFoot
Creepy
1. Social Links
Social Links
Social Links is a software company that develops AI-driven solutions that extract, analyze, and visualize data from open sources including social media, messengers, blockchains, and the Dark Web.
Their flagship product SL Professional empowers investigators and data security professionals to reach their work objectives quicker and more effectively.
SL Professional offers a suite of custom-designed search methods spanning more than 500 open sources.
The product’s advanced search queries, many of which rely on machine learning, allow users to filter the data as it is being gathered in a range of sophisticated ways.
However, Social Links OSINT solutions do more than just gather information; they also offer advanced analysis tools for refining data as you progress through investigations, returning accurate results for an ever more comprehensible picture of the investigation.
Product Features
A professional bundle of 1000+ original search methods for over 500 open data sources including all major platforms across social media, messengers, blockchains, and the Dark Web
Advanced automation features which leverage machine learning to deliver an expansive range of information retrieval, delivering accurate results at remarkable speeds
Bespoke analysis tools enable data to be significantly enriched and molded to the user’s particular purposes
Seamless integration within any IT infrastructure
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
Connectivity and Communication Privacy Concerns
Information Sharing Online Harassment and Bullying
Networking and Professional Opportunities Information Overload and Fake News
Creativity and Expression Time Consumption and Addiction
Social Links – Trial / Demo
2. Google Dorks
Google Dorks
We all know that Google is a well-known and the world’s most-used search engine, but don’t be shocked! As the tech giant, Google is not an open-source tool, but we all use google to find the information that we want.
As search engine simply provides us with essential information, as well as they, also record important information.
And Google Dorks implements a flexible and easy way of searching for information by applying some operators, and conceivably it is also known as Google Hacking as well.
The result of this search engine comprises social media posts, ads, websites, images, etc. the operators of the search engine could easily make the information much better and more accessible for securing data.
OSINT Tools Features
As we know that Google uses operators to find information, and here are some operators that we have mentioned below:-
Intitle – Generally this operator is used to search the title.
Ext – This operator is used for a specific extension in the file.
Inurl – It simply helps us to find specific strings mentioned in the URL.
Filetype – As its name itself states that with this operator you can simply know that it is used to find the file.
Intext – It helps us to find a particular text on a specific page.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
Advanced Search Capabilities Privacy and Security Risks
Information Gathering Ethical Concerns
Website Vulnerability Assessment Legal Implications
Competitive Intelligence Inaccurate or Outdated Results
Google Dorks – Trial / Demo
3. NexVision
NexVision is an AI-powered OSINT tool that automates data collection and processing to drive decision-making.
It is the most comprehensive OSINT tool on the list used by corporations, governments, the military, and researchers.
Unlike other OSINT tools that are limited in its scope, or produce too many false-positive results, NexVision provides the largest OSINT data pool (surface and dark web, social media data lake) and it uses artificial intelligence (AI), to remove false positives, so users get the most accurate intelligence.
Objective
Provide accurate, timely, and actionable intelligence that empowers teams throughout the organization to make faster, more accurate decisions and amplify their impact — from security operations, compliance, incident response, fraud prevention, risk analysis, and threat monitoring.
OSINT Tools Features
AI/ML-powered engine with the continuous collection, analysis, and sorting of big data (from publicly available databases and the deep web)
Provide real-time access to the whole web, including the clear web and the dark web (where criminal activities occur), without the use of an anonymizing browser like Tor.
Greatly increasing data available whilst removing false positives
Multilingual data support
NexVision – Trial / Demo
4. TheHarvester
The Harvester is an outstanding tool if you want to find emails, user names, hostnames, or domain-associated information from different public search engines and PGP key servers.
This tool is a sub-part of the Kali Linux Tools and is quite attractive for harvesting intelligence applied in the initial steps of a penetration test.
This tool is basically created to help the penetration tester on a more advanced stage, and it’s really efficient, manageable, and easy to use. Moreover, there are different sources are available that it supports are Google for Emails and subdomains, PGP server for hostname/subdomains and users, and many more.
Features
The Harvester can search multiple sources, including search engines, PGP key servers, and popular social media platforms, to gather email addresses associated with a target domain.
The tool can identify subdomains associated with a target domain.
The Harvester can leverage search engines such as Google, Bing, and Baidu to collect relevant information about a target.
Shodan is a search engine for internet-connected devices.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
Information Gathering Reliance on Publicly Available Information:
Customizable Sources Incomplete or Outdated Data
Email Address Discovery Legal and Ethical Considerations
Subdomain Enumeratio Lack of Advanced Analysis
TheHarvester – Trial / Demo
5. Shodan
Shodan is an effective and powerful Hackers search engine generally used by hackers to see through all exposed assets.
It gives you the proper results that make more sense and are associated with security professionals.
It mainly contains data linked to assets that are being connected to the network, and this tool can be accessed from computers, laptop, traffic signals, webcams, and different IoT devices.
Basically, this tool simply helps the security analyst in recognizing the target and test it for several vulnerabilities, services, passwords, ports, and many more. Moreover, it also provides flexibility in community searches as well.
Features
Shodan scans and indexes the internet, allowing users to search for specific devices or services.
Shodan performs port scanning on devices to identify open ports and the services running on those ports.
Shodan has a vulnerability detection feature that scans for known vulnerabilities in internet-connected devices.
Shodan collects banners and information from devices and services.
Banners often provide details about the software, version numbers, and other identifying information, which can be useful for identifying specific devices or software running on them.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
Device Discovery Privacy Concerns
Vulnerability Assessment Legal and Ethical Considerations
Search Filters and Queries Incomplete or Outdated Information
Exploit Detection Limited Visibility
Shodan – Trial / Demo
6. Hudson Rock
With expertise developed at the cybercrime intelligence division at the prestigious 8200 cyber unit at the IDF, Hudson Rock’s powerful cybercrime threat intelligence feed provides invaluable data for infrastructure protection, end-user protection, and supply chain risk assessment.
Cavalier — Hudson Rock’s monitoring and notification platform (and API) for threat intelligence professionals — notifies SOC teams about employees, customers, partners, and third parties that had their computers compromised through global malware spreading campaigns.
With very sensitive and actionable data sourced from threat actors in exclusive hacking circles, Cavalier’s database of millions of compromised machines helps organizations combat ransomware and other cyberattacks.
Hudson Rock also offers a great sales prospecting tool for cybersecurity sales teams called ‘Bayonet’.
Free Trials for Cavalier & Bayonet, as well as a free preview version of their robust cybercrime API are available at HudsonRock.
Features
Hudson Rock likely offers dark web monitoring services to track and identify potential exposure of sensitive information, such as compromised credentials, leaked data, or discussions related to cyber threats.
Hudson Rock may have capabilities to monitor and identify data breaches affecting their clients
Hudson Rock likely provides threat intelligence services to provide organizations with real-time information about emerging threats, hacking groups, vulnerabilities, and other relevant security information.
Hudson Rock may offer vulnerability assessment services to identify weaknesses in an organization’s network, systems, and applications.
Pros and Cons
Hudson Rock – Trial / Demo
7. Maltego
It is a part of Kali Linux and a product of Paterva.
This open-source intelligence tool is mainly used to perform an essential investigation toward various targets with the help of some in-built transforms.
If you want to use Maltego then you should be registered on the Paterva site, after proper registration, you can create your own desired machine, or you can simply run the machine to get the target.
The program that we use in Maltego is generally written in Java and it comes built-in pre-packaged with the Kali Linux.
There are several steps built-in inside Maltego through which you can easily collect information from different sources, based on the result, and not only that even it will also generate graphical results of the target as well.
Features
Maltego allows users to create visual maps, known as graphs, to represent various entities such as people, companies, domains, IP addresses, and more.
Maltego integrates with numerous data sources, including public data sets, social media platforms, DNS records, online services, and more.
Maltego helps in identifying connections and relationships between entities by automatically generating links based on collected data.
Maltego supports collaboration among users by allowing the sharing of graphs and collected data.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
Comprehensive Data Gathering Learning Curve
Graphical Link Analysis Data Source Limitations
Extensive Transform and Integration Options Licensing and Pricing
Customization and Flexibility Resource Requirements
Maltego – Trial / Demo
8. Metagoofil
We can say that Metagoofil is an information-gathering tool generally used for extracting metadata of public documents of the targeted company or organization.
This tool offers a lot of features like searching for the record, extraction of metadata, reporting of the result, and local downloads.
After the result, it produces a report with usernames, software versions, and servers or specific machine names that will serve Penetration testers in the information-gathering stage.
Features
Metagoofil can extract metadata from various types of documents, such as Microsoft Office files (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint), PDF files, and other file formats
Metagoofil helps identify the sources from which documents are retrieved.
Metagoofil gathers valuable information about an organization or individual by extracting details from the document metadata.
Metagoofil can download files from the internet and analyze their metadata locally.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
Metadata Extraction Limited Document Types
Bulk Processing Dependency on Metadata
Customizable Output Lack of Advanced Analysis
Document Source Analysis Legal and Ethical Considerations
Metagoofil – Trial / Demo
9. Recon-Ng
Recon-Ng is generally used to perform surveillance on the target and is one of the best OSINT Tools in the list, furthermore, it’s also built into Kali Linux.
Recon-ng has several modules inbuilt, which is it’s one of its most powerful features, and not only that even its method relates to Metasploit.
Those users who have used Metasploit before can know the exact power of modular tools. To use a modular tool, you have to add the domain in the workspace and these workspaces are mainly generated to carry out the operation inside it.
There are some great modules, like bing-domain-web and google-site-web, which are used to find additional domains associated with the first initial target domain.
The result of these domains will be stay as recorded domains to the search engines.
Features
Recon-ng integrates with numerous data sources, including search engines, social media platforms, DNS records, online services, APIs, and more.
Recon-ng is built on a modular framework, which means that it offers a wide range of pre-built modules for specific data gathering tasks.
Recon-ng also supports active reconnaissance techniques, which involve actively probing target systems to gather information.
Recon-ng can integrate with external tools and data sources, allowing users to leverage existing tools and services within the framework.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
Modular Architecture Learning Curve
Extensive Range of Modules Data Source Limitations
API Support Technical Expertise Required
Powerful Query Language Legal and Ethical Considerations
Recon-Ng – Trial / Demo
10. Check Usernames
As we discussed above that how much time takes and laboring to find a username presence without using an open-source intelligence tool. Thus if you want to get any information about usernames without wasting time, then Check Usernames is one of the best tools for it.
It simply searches for a specific username at a time from more than 150 websites, and not only that even it also has a fantastic feature with which you can quickly check the presence of the target on a particular website so you can immediately attack or counter your target.
Features
Check Usernames – Trial / Demo
11. TinEye
TinEye is the first reverse image search engine, and all you have to do is to submit a proper picture to TinEye to get all the required information like where it has come and how it has been used.
It uses different methods to function its tasks like image matching, signature matching, watermark identification, and various other databases to match the image instead of using keyword matching.
TinEye applies neural networks, machine learning, pattern recognition, and image identification technology rather than keywords or metadata.
In short, if you are searching for any tool like this for reverse image search then undoubtedly it is one of the best tools that you can find on the internet.
Features
TinEye’s primary feature is its reverse image search capability. Users can upload an image or provide the URL of an image, and TinEye will search its index to find matching or similar images.
TinEye employs advanced image recognition algorithms to analyze and compare images based on their visual characteristics, such as colors, shapes, textures, and patterns.
TinEye supports multiple languages, allowing users to perform searches in different languages and discover images associated with specific regions or languages.
TinEye offers browser extensions and plugins for popular web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Pros and cons
Pros Cons
Image Discovery Limited Image Coverage
Extensive Image Index Reliance on Metadata
User-Friendly Interface Inability to Search Private or Restricted Content
Additional Search Parameters Language and Cultural Limitations
TinEye – Trial / Demo
12. SpiderFoot
It is another open-source tool in the OSINT Tools GitHub list that is available for both the well-known platforms, Linux and Windows.
It has been written in Python language, and it runs on any virtual platform.
As it has automatically qualified to use questions from over 100+ OSINT specialists to grasp the intelligence on emails, IP addresses, names, domain names, etc.
It basically combines with easy and interactive GUI with a powerful command-line interface.
It receives and collects a wide range of information about the target, such as a web server, netblocks, e-mails, and many other things.
While Using Spiderfoot, you may be able to target as per your need and requirement, as it simply collects the data by learning how they are linked to each other.
Moreover, it gives clear penetrations about possible hacking warnings like data leaks, vulnerabilities, and additional relevant information on the same.
Hence this insight will help to leverage the penetration test and improve the threat intelligence to notify before it gets attacked or looted.
Features
SpiderFoot is built with a modular architecture, allowing users to customize and extend its functionality.
SpiderFoot integrates with a vast array of data sources, including search engines, social media platforms, DNS records, WHOIS information, IP geolocation databases, threat intelligence feeds, public databases, and more.
SpiderFoot automates the process of gathering information by querying different data sources and APIs.
SpiderFoot can analyze the relationships and connections between different entities, such as domains, IP addresses, email addresses, and social media profiles.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
Comprehensive Data Gathering Learning Curve
Automation and Efficiency: False Positives and False Negatives:
Customization and Flexibility Technical Expertise Required
Customization and Flexibility Legal and Ethical Considerations
SpiderFoot – Trial / Demo
12. Creepy
It is an open-source Geolocation intelligence tool, which gathers information about Geolocation by using several social networking platforms and different image hosting services that are previously distributed somewhere else.
Generally, Creepy is classified into two primary tabs that are, the ‘Targets’ and ‘Map view’ tab.
Basically, it shows the descriptions on the map, applying a search filter based on the exact location and date.
And not only that, even all these reports are accessible in CSV or KML format as well.
Moreover, it is written in Python language and also comes with a packaged binary for Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, and Backtrack, and also for Microsoft Windows as well.
Features
Gathering: Creepy focuses on collecting geolocation data from social media platforms.
Creepy provides a visual interface that displays the collected geolocation data on a map.
Creepy allows users to track specific users across different social media platforms and track their geolocation information over time.
Creepy offers a timeline feature that allows users to analyze the geolocation data collected over a period.
Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
Geolocation Information Privacy Concerns
Social Media Mapping Accuracy and Reliability
Customizable Search Parameters Limited Coverage
Extensibility Learning Curve
Creepy– Trial / Demo
OSINT Tools – Conclusion
In this article, we tried to cover all the information on OSINT tools, including OSINT techniques, and what they need, and we have also discussed the top 10 best OSINT tools of 2023 as well.
Though the list can go on, the fact is that it depends on the selection of the right tool and proper techniques. Hence the above tools are free to use so that users can easily use them and can check which is more suitable for them.
So, what do you think about this? Simply share all your views and thoughts in the comment section below. And if you liked this post, then do not forget to share this post with your friends and on your social profiles too.