OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) is the process of analyzing, collecting, and using information that is legally available to the public. OSINT is a product of the intelligence cycle, which comes from OSINF (open-source information).

Many companies offer advanced OSINT tools to help them acquire intelligence and insights via publicly available data.

Since the internet already offers vast data, filtering them to extract meaningful details can be challenging. This is why open-source intelligence software is becoming a must in the business industry since OSINT tools can make public data collection and analysis more effective and easier.

Because OSINT tools can help companies draw valuable intelligence and insights about people and companies, various businesses and law enforcement agencies see them as the most accessible source of information. However, companies offering efficient OSINT software for law enforcement and business competition are limited.

To help you identify the most reliable OSINT companies in the market, here are the top 5 best OSINT companies you need to check this 2023:

Top 5 Best Open-Source Intelligence Tools

1 Maltego

Maltego is an OSINT software used for information gathering and forensics. It was developed by Paterva, an Africa-based company founded in 2007. It is designed to extract, process, and visualize data from numerous sources. These sources include web pages, social media platforms, and other databases.

Paterva's OSINT software achieves this, thanks to its advanced features, such as a range of data connectors that allow users to import and export data from open sources easily. Aside from this, Maltego also offers a range of graphing options that enable clients to visualize data in numerous formats like network graphs, entity-relationship diagrams, etc.

Maltego also has SOCMINT (social media intelligence) capability, achieved using other advanced OSINT tools, such as Social Links Professional. These features allow Maltego to become a powerful and flexible OSINT software that can help investigators uncover hidden relationships and patterns in complex data sets.

Pros

• Easy to write using its own programming language

• Does not need any server infrastructure setup, such as the Transform server or iTDS

• Allows clients to identify and visualize relationships between different entities, which can help uncover patterns and connections that may not be immediately apparent

Cons

• Updating a Transform means it needs to be updated on every machine

• Requires setup on each machine where you want it to be installed in

2 Social Links Professional

Social Links Professional is an all-in-one OSINT solution that allows clients to conduct in-depth investigations across blockchains, social media platforms, messaging applications, and even Dark Web. It is equipped with numerous advanced features, such as AI-driven facial recognition tech.

This innovation helps companies draw critical insights, which can assist law enforcement agents/investigators to gain breakthroughs, allowing them to identify criminals easily. Thanks to this OSINT technology, connecting the dots and uncovering a web of information can become more effective and faster compared to traditional methods.

Aside from this, the Social Links Professional also improves threat intelligence processes: incident responses, penetration testing, etc. This OSINT tool provides remarkably effective detailing methods for cybersecurity parameters as well.

Pros

• Cybersecurity experts can use Social Links Professional to link analysis and digital footprinting methods, allowing investigators to identify connections that usually slip beneath the radar.

• Social Links Professional can be used for national security since it enables analytical units to identify and monitor cybersecurity threat groups effectively.

• It allows clients to access over 500 data sources.

• This OSINT tool provides AI/ML technologies and over 1,000 built-in original search methods. Social Links Professional is also compatible with platform, including Maltego and i2 together with some of their product partners such as DarkOwl. Aside from these, the Social Links Professional OSINT tool has integrations supported by Spiderfoot HX, i2, and Maltego, making it among the most powerful OSINT software in the market.

Cons

• Social Links Professional may not be intuitive for some users.

• Its transform can take a while before it is generated.

• In some cases, the OSINT results are limited.

3 SEON

SEON is considered among the best for financial and retail verticals. However, it's useless for cyber security and investigators compare to other social and digital checker OSINT tools in the market. It is mainly used to identify fraudsters and other malicious actors and prevent them from attacking. SEON OSINT software can confirm someone's identity, thanks to its ability to check for linked social media and online platform accounts.

It is also the only OSINT fraud prevention tool that can access more than 50 social and online signals. These checks are based on IP addresses, email addresses, and contact numbers.

Pros

• Offers additional behavior checks, device fingerprinting, and velocity checks

• Has enriched data based on email addresses, IP addresses, and phone numbers

• Offers real-time results to its clients

• Its API calls offer better scalability

• Can gather social media information more effectively

Cons

• Since SEON is client-focused, it doesn't have that many forensic elements compared to other OSINT tools.

• Lacks a live tracking map of orders.

• IP check could be more precise with mobile IPs.

4 Google

Google is one of the most advanced search engine services in the market. But did you know that search engines, such as DuckDuckGo, Bing, and (of course) Google, can be used as OSINT tools?

Yes, you read that right. Google and other search engine services are also great OSINT tools since they are widely available to the public, especially since they are free. Numerous investigators have already relied on Google as they discovered reverse-engineering search engine methods for it.

One of these methods is the so-called Google dorking. It uses search operators or functions to expand the capacity of Google. But, the use of Google dorking has been criticized because it could cross the line in terms of how public the information really is.

Pros

• Anyone can access Google and use it to Google dork if they know how to

• Allows users to access PDF files that other individuals can't easily access

• You can use Google without spending any money

Cons

• Requires a lot of trial-and-error activities

• Can get you in trouble since some documents are illegal to download

• Has limited results

5 Spokeo

Unlike other OSINT tools, Spokeo is a free software with a commercial enterprise version. It is specifically designed for collecting and analyzing information about U.S. citizens. It offers an easy-to-use interface, allowing users to gain more accurate results.

People can use Spokeo to get information based on a single data point. This is achieved since Spokeo can act as a reverse postal address lookup, phone lookup, or email lookup tool. It is widely available to users as they can simply access it online.

If you are an Android user, you can even download the Spokeo Android app to search directly from your handset. Spokeo will allow you to access billions of records: social networks, historical records, court records, property deeds, and more.

Pros:

• A great OSINT tool if you are checking U.S.-based information

• Offers reverse email or address lookup features

• Use Spokeo to check court and historical records

Cons:

• Spokeo is not efficient in other countries

• Some of Spokeo's features require payment before taking advantage of them

All the OSINT tools mentioned above are efficient in gathering, analyzing, and disseminating public-available information. However, some of them have drastic limitations. Among these tools are Google and Spokeo. Meanwhile, SEON lacks the forensic features that investigators need.

In short, both SL Professional and Maltego, since they can work together, have the advantage over Google, Spokeo, and SEON. But, since SL Professional has more features, such as AI-driven facial recognition, it is best to say that Social Links' OSINT tool is your best option.

So what are you waiting for? Check the SL Professional OSINT tool now.