5 Hidden-Gem OSINT Tools Every Penetration Tester Needs in 2024

Disclaimer: This is for educational purposes only.

When it comes to penetration testing, information is power. The right OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tool can make all the difference between a superficial scan and a deeply insightful engagement. While most pentesters are familiar with popular tools like Shodan, Maltego, and theHarvester, there are lesser-known tools that offer unique advantages, often revealing layers of intelligence that mainstream tools miss. In 2024, pentesters are increasingly reaching for these hidden gems to gain an edge and deliver nuanced insights for their clients.

In this article, we’ll dive into five OSINT tools that may not be as popular but bring significant value in specialized scenarios. Whether it’s tracking behavior, analyzing metadata, filtering traffic, extracting local intelligence, or dissecting website connections, these tools provide capabilities that go beyond the basics. Let’s look at how each of these tools can enhance a pentester’s approach, along with real-world examples to illustrate their potential.

1. Understanding Target Behavior in Real-Time with Trape

In today’s digital world, a pentester’s job often requires observing a target’s online behavior without direct interaction. Trape provides a way to monitor a target’s real-time activity through a simple tracking link. Unlike traditional phishing, Trape is not about delivering malicious payloads but about gathering intelligence on how, where, and when users interact online.

Consider a scenario where a pentester is testing a client’s vulnerability to social engineering attacks. Instead of deploying a phishing campaign, they could use Trape to send an innocuous survey link to....