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Enhance your recon with Spiderfoot

Gabriel Haab

• 1 min read
Enhance your recon with Spiderfoot

SpiderFoot is a powerful open-source intelligence (OSINT) tool designed for automated reconnaissance. It gathers data about your targets, whether it's a domain, an IP address, an email, or even a person's name, by leveraging multiple online resources. Here's a step-by-step guide to using SpiderFoot for external reconnaissance:

Step 1: Install SpiderFoot

  1. System Requirements:
    • SpiderFoot can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Ensure Python 3.7 or later is installed.
  2. Installation:

Clone the repository from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/smicallef/spiderfoot.git

Navigate to the directory:

cd spiderfoot

Install the required dependencies:

pip install -r requirements.txt
  1. Run SpiderFoot:

Start the SpiderFoot web interface:

python3 sf.py -l 127.0.0.1:5001
    • Open a web browser and navigate to http://127.0.0.1:5001

Step 2: Configure the Target

  1. Define the Target:
    • Once logged into the SpiderFoot web interface, go to the "New Scan" section.
    • Enter the target information, such as a domain (example.com), an IP address, or an email address.
  2. Select the Scan Modules:
    • SpiderFoot supports various modules for tasks like DNS lookups, social media analysis, email harvesting, etc.
    • Choose the modules relevant to your reconnaissance objective or opt for the default selection.

Step 3: Run the Scan

  1. Start the Scan:
    • Click "Start Scan" and wait for the process to complete.
  2. Monitor Progress:
    • The web interface provides real-time progress updates.
    • Depending on the target and selected modules, the scan may take several minutes to complete.

Step 4: Analyze the Results

  1. Review Collected Data:
    • The results are displayed in an organized format, including categories like IP addresses, email addresses, DNS records, and social media accounts.
  2. Identify Key Insights:
    • Look for sensitive information, vulnerabilities, or patterns that could be useful for penetration testing or further investigation.

SpiderFoot is an indispensable tool for ethical hackers, cybersecurity professionals, and researchers. With its comprehensive feature set and modular design, it simplifies the process of gathering OSINT, helping you uncover valuable insights about your target.