This is a list of OSINT tools that I find useful for investigations and can be helpful in completing some of the daily challenges I create. This list is not comprehensive, there is a lot more tools out there that you can use. I have listed more sites with links to other tools at the bottom of this page.
Note: I cannot confirm the safety of any of these tools or sites and independent research should be done before you give any of your personal details to any of these sites.
Search Engines
- Google
The most widely used search engine in the western world.
- Yandex
A powerful Russian search engine.
- Baidu
A popular Chinese search engine.
- Duckduckgo
A search engine known for its privacy.
- IntelligenceX
A search engine and data archive that uses OSINT tools to search information.
Geolocation Tools
- Google Maps
A popular mapping tool used for geolocation and navigation.
- Google Earth
Allows you to explore 3D satellite imagery of the Earth.
- OpenStreetMap
A collaborative mapping project that provides free, editable maps.
- Spot
Find the location of a specific spot using a description of a location and a known search area.
- Suncalc
Useful in verifying timestamps on media and geolocating media based on position of sun and shadows on objects
- Overpass Turbo
A tool to query OpenStreetMap data using a simple query language.
- IP2location
A tool for looking up IP address geolocation information.
- WiGLE: Wireless Network Mapping
A tool for mapping wireless networks and their geolocations.
- BBC Weather
A reliable weather forecasting tool. Good for historical data
- Mapillary (Openstreetmap & UGC)
A platform for visualizing street-level imagery and maps.
Reverse Image Searching
- Yandex images
A powerful Russian reverse image search engine that allows you to find visually similar images across the web. Particularly useful for finding image sources and tracking media footprints.
- Google images
The most widely used image search tool. Allows users to search by uploading an image or using image URLs. Great for identifying image sources or finding duplicates online.
- Tineye
A reverse image search engine focused on finding higher-resolution versions of images, identifying the first place an image was published, and tracking its use across the web.
Academic Resources
- Google Scholar
A freely accessible search engine that indexes the full text or metadata of scholarly literature across various disciplines. It's useful for academic papers, patents, books, and more.
- Academia
A platform where researchers share papers, articles, and other academic resources. It's a great tool for finding published research papers or academic profiles of researchers.
Business & Corporate Search / Records
- Opencorporates
A comprehensive database of corporate information, offering insights into over 200 million companies worldwide, including company structure, officers, and more.
- Biznar
A corporate search engine that helps you find company profiles, financial data, and corporate records across multiple sectors.
- Glassdoor
A platform that allows you to search for company reviews, salary reports, and interview questions from employees and job seekers.
- Indeed
A widely used job search engine with information on company reviews, salaries, and job postings, useful for gathering insights on company operations and employee feedback.
- Linkedin
A professional networking platform where you can find company profiles, employee information, and professional connections. Great for business intelligence and networking.
- World Intellectual Property Organ
Provides global intellectual property (IP) data. Useful for researching patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
- Annual Reports
A resource that allows users to access annual reports of public companies, providing valuable insights into financials, operations, and more.
E-Commerce & Cryptocurrency
- Bin Base
A database that helps identify the originating country of bank cards using the first six digits (BIN), useful for identifying the card type or geographical region.
- Craiglist
A classified ads platform for buying, selling, or looking for items locally. It can also be used to gather information on products, services, and sometimes individuals.
- ebay
An online auction site and marketplace where you can find and track items being bought and sold. It’s useful for tracking assets or identifying individuals through purchase history.
- Bitcoinwhoswho
A tool to look up Bitcoin wallet addresses to identify individuals or companies associated with a particular wallet.
- Wallet Explorer
A blockchain explorer that helps you trace Bitcoin wallet transactions. It provides data on blockchain addresses, transactions, and balances.
- Blockchain Explorer
Provides a way to view transactions, wallet balances, and other details within cryptocurrency blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Images
- FotoForensics
A tool used for forensic image analysis to detect photo manipulation. It can reveal hidden details about the image's metadata and help verify authenticity.
- EXIF Data Viewer
A tool to view EXIF metadata embedded in images, which can reveal valuable information like location, device, and camera settings.
- PimEyes
A facial recognition search engine that lets you find publicly available images of people on the web based on a facial picture.
- Image Identification Project
A platform dedicated to identifying objects, people, or locations in images using machine learning and AI to assist in image recognition.
Events
- WherEvent
A platform where users can discover local events, including conferences, concerts, and meetups. Useful for tracking public gatherings or identifying events linked to individuals or organizations.
- Eventbrite
A widely used event management and ticketing platform where users can search for upcoming events, conferences, and other activities.
Geopolitics
- ACLED
A comprehensive database tracking political violence and protest events worldwide, providing crucial data for geopolitical analysis.
- Military Records | Black Book Online
A database for accessing military records, providing insights into individuals’ service history, branches, and rank.
- DS Giving
A platform dedicated to monitoring philanthropic donations, often used for tracking government or corporate donations to causes and NGOs.
- SWAMP Index
A collection of geopolitical data focusing on global corruption and governance, providing in-depth analysis on governance and political stability worldwide.
- The World Factbook
A comprehensive resource published by the CIA, providing detailed information on countries, governments, and global issues.
- BBC News Country Profile
A tool for researching country profiles that includes historical, political, and economic data, helping you understand the context of current events.
- Global Terrorism Database
A database that compiles global terrorism-related events and their impact on international security.
- Interpol
The global police organization that facilitates international cooperation in law enforcement, providing access to crime data, alerts, and international investigations.
- International Atomic Energy Agency
An organization focused on promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It provides information on nuclear non-proliferation, safety standards, and global nuclear risks.
- Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
A platform for global parliamentary cooperation, providing information about legislative actions and members of parliament worldwide.
- Centre of Disease Control and Prevention
A primary U.S. government institution for public health, providing data on infectious diseases, public health threats, and statistical information.
- World Health Organization
A global body responsible for coordinating international public health efforts, offering global health statistics and guidelines for disease control.
- HotGunz Stolen Firearms
A searchable database for tracing stolen firearms worldwide.
- Arms Embargoes
A database that tracks arms embargoes globally, detailing restrictions placed on the trade of weapons to specific countries or regions.
- Small Arms Survey Database
A resource dedicated to tracking the global trade and use of small arms and light weapons.
- Mapping Militant Organizations
A platform that offers detailed information about militant organizations worldwide, useful for understanding global security risks.
Identity / Person Search
- Classmates (US)
A social platform that allows users to reconnect with schoolmates and locate personal history and contact information of individuals.
- Addresses (US)
A platform that allows users to search for individuals' addresses, phone numbers, and other public records, primarily for the United States.
- Ancestry
A genealogy website that offers access to historical records, family trees, and other resources to help individuals trace their ancestry.
- Tinder
A widely-used dating app that can be used to find user profiles and related social media or background information based on photos and descriptions.
- Hinge
A dating app that profiles users and helps connect people based on shared interests. Useful for finding personal information through profile analysis.
- Birth Database
A database offering public birth records. Useful for identifying individuals' birth dates and places of birth.
- DOB Search
A service for searching public records, especially related to dates of birth and other personal details across various databases.
- Hunter
A tool to find and verify email addresses. It is useful for identifying potential email addresses tied to organizations or individuals.
- VoilaNorbert
A service that helps find email addresses by simply entering the person's name and organization, useful for business networking and outreach.
- Have I Been Pwned
A website that allows users to check if their email addresses have been involved in a data breach, revealing potential privacy risks.
- Linkedin
A business-oriented social network where users can find detailed professional histories, education, and work connections of individuals.
- PeekYou
A people search tool that aggregates publicly available data from social networks, web pages, and other online resources to find personal information.
- Numberway
A service used to track phone numbers and other personal data related to phone communications and identity verification.
- Username Search
A platform for searching public data associated with usernames across various social networks and online platforms.
Vehicles
- Check if a vehicle is taxed and has an MOT
A UK government service that allows users to check the tax and MOT status of any registered vehicle in the UK.
- Check Vehicle MOT history
A service from the UK government that allows users to view the MOT history of a vehicle, including any advisories or failures.
- Partial UK number plate search
Allows users to search for vehicles based on a partial vehicle number plate, providing additional information about the vehicle.
- London Transport Museum Photo Search
A platform for accessing historical photographs of London’s transport vehicles, useful for identifying vintage or rare vehicles.
- Marine Vessels Register
A register of UK-registered marine vessels, where users can search by vessel name, registration number, or other criteria.
- Search the G-INFO aircraft register
A UK government database that allows users to search for information on UK-registered aircraft by registration number, aircraft type, and more.
Web Tools
- WHOIS Lookup
A tool to look up domain registration details like registrars, registration dates, and more.
- BuiltWith
Identifies technologies, frameworks, and services used by a website, useful for infrastructure profiling and pivoting.
- Google Dork List
A list of Google search engine operators to narrow down google searches finding niche web pages.
- Wayback Machine
View archived versions of websites and investigate site history.
Sites Containing More Tools
- Hackyourmom.com
A collection of OSINT tools for investigations, useful for digital forensics, personal data search, and other research-related tasks.
- The Cyber Mentor OSINT Course Resources (Mostly US tools)
A GitHub repository containing a collection of open-source OSINT resources and tools, useful for learning and conducting open-source intelligence gathering.
- UK OSINT's UK Resources
A GitHub repository with a focus on OSINT tools and resources specific to the UK, covering everything from government databases to specialized search tools.