The Significance of OSINT Tools in Investigations
While not exactly involved in hacking phones, private investigators often resort to phone number hacking tools during open sources intelligence (OSINT) investigations to extract essential information about specific phone numbers. It’s essential to remember, these tools should be used responsibly and ethically. Often, these tools become handy in understanding the origin or intent behind unknown numbers and provide essential leads during legal investigations.
Amalgamating Technology with Traditional Methods
Private investigators combine modern exploratory tools with traditional methods involving much manual typing, copying, and pasting across multiple sites during an OSINT investigation. Today, the focus will be on one such tool that is compatible with most Linux distribution – an efficient resource when used on a Raspberry Pi 400 computer.
A Linux-friendly Phone Number Scanning Tool
For many Professional Private Investigators who may not have a Linux system at hand, worry not. This tool can also work on a free Linux distribution via the Google Cloud platform, needing only minimal commands to run on Windows.
Activating the Cloud Shell
Beginners can start by activating the cloud shell on the Google Cloud platform, which brings up a Linux shell. This resembles running a virtual machine but is comparatively safer as it operates in the cloud.
Managing Docker Commands
Once the Linux shell manifests, executing a single Linux command will set things in motion. This command begins with ‘docker’ and continues to outline various parameters, finally inputting the PhoneInfoga’s server details. The command will prompt the cloud server to open up port 8080, where the PhoneInfoga application will run.
Enacting Web Preview
The completion of this process is indicated by a blinking cursor. Following this, it’s time to start the web preview, specifically previewing port 8080. This brings up PhoneInfoga utilizing a graphical user interface or GUI.
Running a Phone Number Scan
To run the scan, the phone number must be input in the international format, uninterrupted by any dashes or parentheses. Post executing the scan, one can gather quite a load of information about the phone number.
Understanding Phone Number Scanning Results
The interface will showcase several data tabs, and operators can ignore any error messages at this point. Clicking on the google search toggle results will provide a plethora of data. The software performs various complex searches in Google, exploring different ways the phone number could exist on various online platforms.
Gathering Information from Social Networks
The multifaceted feature set of this tool allows it to scan through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, exploring any public posts with the phone number.
Individual and Reputation Footprints
Further, one can explore individual footprints and reputation footprints with a range of sites, making sure to adjust the phone number format for optimum results.
Remember, It’s Just a Tool
While this tool simplifies some aspects of an OSINT investigation, it doesn’t cover it all. Investigators need to employ other sites and engage in a lot of manual typing, copying, and pasting in their quest for information on phone numbers or any subject relevant to their investigation.
Exploring More Free Databases
For private investigators wanting to delve deeper into free databases available for OSINT investigations, there are resources capable of providing such in-depth knowledge and assist their investigative journey.