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Introduction:
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) has evolved from a niche cybersecurity skill into an essential capability for investigators, security professionals, and ethical hackers worldwide. The upcoming LeakHunt OSINT Course release, hosted by Saad Sarraj on July 4th, promises to deliver a comprehensive walkthrough of real-world OSINT investigations—from setting up secure environments to hunting leaked databases and cracking password hashes. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, mastering these techniques can transform your approach to digital reconnaissance and threat intelligence.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the core principles of OSINT and operational security (OPSEC) for covert investigations
- Master the setup of a secure, isolated investigative environment using virtual machines and anonymization tools
- Learn practical techniques for finding leaked databases, email addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses
- Develop skills in password hash cracking and database automation using industry-standard tools
- Produce professional OSINT reports that meet intelligence community standards
1. Building Your Covert OSINT Command Centre
Before diving into active intelligence gathering, your first priority must be operational security. Your OSINT workstation is your command centre—if compromised, every investigation risks exposure.
Step-by-step setup:
Step 1: Choose Your Base Machine
- Use a virtual machine (VM) with a clean image—no personal apps, social logins, or shared browsing history
- Tools like VMware or VirtualBox offer free virtualization software for isolated environments
- For maximum security, consider dedicated hardware that never touches your personal networks
- Use minimal installations like Ubuntu LTS with only essentials: browser, VPN client, and forensic tools
Step 2: Secure Your Network Route
- Launch a reputable no-logs VPN (e.g., Mullvad, ProtonVPN) to encrypt traffic and mask your origin
- For high-risk cases, route through Tor after the VPN to fracture your digital trail
- Always run a DNS/IP leak test at dnsleaktest.com to verify your network reveals nothing
Step 3: Configure Your Browser Workspace
- Use clean browser profiles dedicated solely to investigation work
- Install anti-fingerprinting extensions: Chameleon (randomizes browser traits), Canvas Defender, uBlock Origin, and Cookie AutoDelete
- Disable WebRTC using extensions like WebRTC Leak Shield
Linux Commands for VM Setup:
Install VirtualBox on Ubuntu/Debian sudo apt update && sudo apt install virtualbox virtualbox-ext-pack Install Kali Linux tools (if using Kali as your OSINT VM) sudo apt update && sudo apt install kali-linux-headless Verify VPN connection and check for leaks curl ifconfig.me sudo apt install dnsutils && nslookup google.com
Windows PowerShell Commands:
Check your public IP (Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "ifconfig.me").Content Test DNS resolution Resolve-DnsName google.com Enable Windows Sandbox (Windows 10/11 Pro) Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Containers-DisposableClientVM"
2. Essential OSINT Tools Installation and Configuration
Modern OSINT investigations rely on a powerful toolkit of open-source software. Here’s how to install and configure the most essential tools.
TheHarvester – Email and Domain Reconnaissance
TheHarvester is a Python tool that scours public information to collect email addresses, subdomains, IPs, and URLs from search engines and specialized databases like Shodan.
Installation:
Option A: Using apt (Kali Linux / Debian/Ubuntu) sudo apt update && sudo apt install theharvester Option B: Installing from source (latest version) git clone https://github.com/laramies/theHarvester.git cd theHarvester python3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt Verify installation theHarvester -h
Basic Usage:
Basic syntax: theHarvester -d <domain> -l <limit> -b <data_source> theHarvester -d example.com -l 100 -b google,duckduckgo
WhatBreach – Leaked Database Discovery
WhatBreach simplifies discovering what breaches an email address has been found in. It leverages HaveIBeenPwned, Dehashed, Hunter.io, and Pastebin APIs.
Installation:
git clone https://github.com/Ekultek/WhatBreach.git cd WhatBreach pip install -r requirements.txt
Usage:
Scan a single email python whatbreach.py -e [email protected] Scan multiple emails from a file python whatbreach.py -l emails.txt Search Hunter.io and WeLeakInfo python whatbreach.py -e [email protected] -sH -wL
sn0int – Semi-Automatic OSINT Framework
sn0int is a powerful framework for IT security professionals and bug hunters to gather intelligence about targets.
Installation:
sudo apt install sn0int View help sn0int -h Run a module directly sn0int run <module_name>
3. Finding and Downloading Leaked Databases
One of the core skills in OSINT is identifying and accessing leaked credential databases. This requires a combination of automated tools and manual investigative techniques.
Using BreachHunter with Dehashed API
BreachHunter is a Bash utility that automates data-breach lookups using the Dehashed API.
Setup:
git clone https://github.com/4m3rr0r/BreachHunter.git cd BreachHunter Configure your Dehashed API credentials in the script chmod +x breachhunter.sh
Usage:
./breachhunter.sh -e [email protected]
Automating Database Downloads with Python
For large-scale OSINT operations, automation is key. Here’s a Python script template for downloading and parsing leaked databases:
import requests
import json
import csv
from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
def search_breach(email, api_key):
"""Search for breached credentials using HaveIBeenPwned API"""
headers = {"hibp-api-key": api_key}
url = f"https://haveibeenpwned.com/api/v3/breachedaccount/{email}"
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
if response.status_code == 200:
return response.json()
return []
def download_paste(email):
"""Download paste data from Pastebin"""
Implementation for paste retrieval
pass
Multi-threaded processing
with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=10) as executor:
results = executor.map(search_breach, email_list)
Windows Automation with PowerShell:
Download and extract breach data $url = "https://example.com/breach-data.zip" $output = "C:\OSINT\breach-data.zip" Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $url -OutFile $output Expand-Archive -Path $output -DestinationPath "C:\OSINT\breaches\"
4. Password Hash Cracking with Hashcat
Hashcat is the world’s fastest password recovery tool, supporting over 300 hash types including MD5, SHA-family, bcrypt, and WPA.
Installation:
Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y hashcat Verify installation hashcat --version Check available devices (GPU/CPU) hashcat -I Run benchmark hashcat -b
Obtaining Wordlists:
Download rockyou.txt (common password wordlist) wget https://github.com/brannondorsey/naive-hashcat/releases/download/data/rockyou.txt If compressed gunzip rockyou.txt.gz
Cracking Hashes:
MD5 hash cracking (-m 0 for MD5) hashcat -m 0 -a 0 hash.txt rockyou.txt SHA256 hash cracking (-m 1400) hashcat -m 1400 -a 0 hash.txt rockyou.txt NTLM hash cracking (-m 1000) hashcat -m 1000 -a 0 hash.txt rockyou.txt Show cracked results hashcat --show hash.txt
Hash Type Reference Table:
| Hash Type | Length | Hashcat Mode |
|–|–|–|
| MD5 | 32 chars | -m 0 |
| SHA1 | 40 chars | -m 100 |
| SHA256 | 64 chars | -m 1400 |
| SHA512 | 128 chars | -m 1700 |
| NTLM | 32 chars | -m 1000 |
| bcrypt | 60 chars | -m 3200 |
Windows Usage:
Windows binary usage hashcat.exe -m 0 -a 0 hash.txt rockyou.txt Use GPU for faster cracking hashcat.exe -I hashcat.exe -m 0 -a 0 hash.txt rockyou.txt -d 1
- Finding Email Addresses, Phone Numbers, and Physical Addresses
Email OSINT with Advanced Tools
The Advanced Email OSINT tool searches across 100+ platforms including marketplaces, discussion forums, and Google services.
Installation and Usage:
git clone https://github.com/uSerJakut-Hk/advanced-email-osint.git cd advanced-email-osint python -m venv venv source venv/bin/activate Linux/macOS venv\Scripts\activate Windows pip install -r requirements.txt Basic search python osint_email.py --email [email protected] Search specific platforms python osint_email.py --email [email protected] --platforms marketplaces discussions Output to HTML report python osint_email.py --email [email protected] --output html
Phone Number OSINT with PhoneInfoga
PhoneInfoga is an advanced tool for scanning international phone numbers to determine validity, line type, carrier, and online presence.
Installation:
git clone https://github.com/sundowndev/phoneinfoga.git cd phoneinfoga mkdir -p bin go build -o ./bin/phoneinfoga ./main.go
Usage:
Scan a phone number ./bin/phoneinfoga scan -1 "+1234567890" Example output includes: validity, line type, carrier, country, related links
Reverse Phone Lookup (Go tool):
Install go install github.com/username/reverse-phone-lookup@latest Usage reverse-phone-lookup -1umber "+1234567890"
Address Discovery Techniques:
- Use Google Dorks: `site:whitepages.com “John Doe” “New York”`
– Search public records databases - Leverage social media geolocation data
- Use people search engines (Pipl, Spokeo, Whitepages)
6. Automating OSINT Workflows
Photon – Fast Web Crawler for OSINT
Photon is a fast, flexible crawler designed for open-source intelligence that extracts URLs, emails, and other data.
Installation:
git clone https://github.com/s0md3v/Photon.git cd Photon pip install -r requirements.txt
Usage:
python photon.py -u https://target.com -l 3 -t 10
LootBin – Paste Hunting Tool
LootBin hunts public pastes on termbin.com using keywords to save links and full pastes for OSINT.
Installation:
git clone https://github.com/gustqvo432/LootBin.git cd LootBin pip install -r requirements.txt
Usage:
python lootbin.py -k "password" "email" "breach"
Creating Automated OSINT Scripts (Python):
import subprocess
import json
import os
from datetime import datetime
def run_osint_workflow(domain, email):
"""Automated OSINT workflow combining multiple tools"""
results = {}
Run TheHarvester
harvester_cmd = f"theHarvester -d {domain} -l 100 -b all -f results"
subprocess.run(harvester_cmd, shell=True)
Run WhatBreach
breach_cmd = f"python whatbreach.py -e {email}"
subprocess.run(breach_cmd, shell=True)
Run Photon crawler
photon_cmd = f"python photon.py -u https://{domain} -l 2"
subprocess.run(photon_cmd, shell=True)
Compile results
timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%Y%m%d_%H%M%S")
with open(f"osint_report_{timestamp}.json", "w") as f:
json.dump(results, f, indent=2)
return results
if <strong>name</strong> == "<strong>main</strong>":
run_osint_workflow("example.com", "[email protected]")
7. Writing Professional OSINT Reports
Professional OSINT reporting requires structure, clarity, and analytical rigor. The SANS Intelligence Analyst’s Playbook provides a field-ready framework.
Report Structure:
- BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) : State the most critical finding immediately
2. Key Judgments: Summarize the most important assessments
3. Evidence: Present supporting data with source attribution
4. Analysis: Explain the analytical reasoning and methodology
5. Alternatives: Consider alternative interpretations
6. Implications: Discuss operational or strategic significance
7. Outlook: Provide forecasts and recommendations
Report Template:
OSINT Investigation Report Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Date: [YYYY-MM-DD] Case ID: [bash] Investigator: [bash] Executive Summary [2-3 sentences summarizing key findings] Methodology - Tools used: [list tools and versions] - Sources: [list data sources] - Timeline: [investigation period] Findings Digital Footprint - Email addresses discovered: [bash] - Phone numbers identified: [bash] - Physical addresses: [bash] Breach Analysis - Databases containing target information: [bash] - Credentials exposed: [bash] Analysis [Detailed analysis of findings and their significance] Recommendations [Actionable recommendations based on findings] Appendix [Supporting data, screenshots, code snippets]
What Undercode Say:
- Operational Security is Non-1egotiable: Before running any OSINT tool, establish a secure, isolated environment. A single misconfigured VPN or browser leak can expose your entire investigation and compromise your identity. The LeakHunt course rightly emphasizes secure environment setup as a foundational skill.
-
Automation Amplifies Capability: Manual OSINT is time-consuming and error-prone. Tools like WhatBreach, Photon, and custom Python scripts enable investigators to process vast amounts of data efficiently. The course’s focus on automating database downloads and searches reflects this industry trend toward scalable intelligence gathering.
The OSINT landscape is rapidly evolving, with new tools emerging and existing ones being constantly updated. The LeakHunt course addresses this by covering multiple methods to hunt databases, revealing covert email addresses, and finding personal information through various techniques. Password hash cracking remains a critical skill for understanding the impact of data breaches, and Hashcat continues to be the gold standard for password recovery. The ability to write professional OSINT reports that meet intelligence community standards—as outlined in the SANS framework—separates amateur investigators from true professionals. By combining technical proficiency with structured analytical thinking, OSINT practitioners can deliver actionable intelligence that drives decision-making in cybersecurity, law enforcement, and corporate security.
Prediction:
+1 The democratization of OSINT tools and training through courses like LeakHunt will significantly elevate the baseline capability of security professionals worldwide, leading to more effective threat hunting and incident response.
+1 Automated OSINT workflows will become standard practice in security operations centres, reducing manual investigation time from days to hours and enabling faster response to emerging threats.
-1 The increased accessibility of advanced OSINT techniques also lowers the barrier for malicious actors, potentially leading to a surge in targeted social engineering attacks and privacy violations that exploit publicly available information.
+1 Professional OSINT certification and structured reporting frameworks will gain wider adoption, establishing OSINT as a recognized discipline with formal career paths and industry standards.
-1 Organizations that fail to implement robust data protection measures will face increased risk as investigators and attackers alike become more proficient at discovering and exploiting leaked credentials and exposed personal information.
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