Cyber Security Testing Toolkit - 9 Must-Have Information Gathering Tools

In the field of cybersecurity, it's important to have a thorough awareness of potential attack surfaces and vulnerabilities in order to stay one step ahead of bad actors.  

A survey from the Ponemon Institute states that, on average, data breaches cost an astounding $4.45 million worldwide in 2023. The study also revealed that human error was a factor in 74% of breaches, underscoring the significance of both robust technological cyber security testing solutions, along with education & awareness campaigns.  

Cybersecurity testing experts may strengthen an organization's defenses and create preventative steps to lessen risks by carefully gathering and evaluating data about its systems, networks, and personnel. 

What is Information Gathering in Cyber Security Testing? 

Information gathering is the process of systematically acquiring intelligence about a target. These targets could be computer networks, websites, or even individuals. This intelligence can include technical data like IP addresses, domain names, software versions, and operating systems, but can also extend to employee contact details, organizational structure, or even physical security details. This information is crucial for mapping a target's landscape of potential weaknesses. 

Types of Information Gathering Tools 

 In the ever-changing world of cybersecurity, information gathering techniques are critical for cyber security testing companies and security testing service providers. These technologies enable professionals to keep ahead of possible dangers by painstakingly gathering and evaluating intelligence, hence preserving the integrity of QA testing operations.  

Here's a breakdown of the major categories: 

• Network Mapping and Scanning: Tools such as Nmap and Zenmap disclose active network hosts, operating systems, accessible services, and open ports. This information is critical for identifying potential attack vectors within an organization's digital infrastructure. 

• Vulnerability Scanning: These specialist tools actively scan systems and software for known flaws. Security testing services employ tools such as Nessus or OpenVAS to identify exploitable flaws and direct remedial activities. 

• OSINT (Open Source Intelligence): These tools scan publicly available sources such as search engines, social media, and specialist databases. Shodan, Recon-ng, and Maltego can detect leaked passwords, software versions, and other sensitive information about a target. 

• Domain and DNS Analysis: Understanding domain infrastructure is critical for security testing. Tools like WHOIS and DNSdumpster provide invaluable information about domain ownership, registration details, and associated network blocks. 

Effective cyber security testing goes hand-in-hand with the intelligent use of these information gathering tools. Even software testing services play an extensive role in the cyber security of an organization. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of a target's landscape, organizations can proactively bolster their defenses and ensure the success of their QA services. 

Benefits of Using Information Gathering Tools 

Information gathering tools offer a wealth of advantages for cyber security testing companies, security testing service providers, and organizations committed to robust QA services.  

Here's why they're essential: 

• Vulnerability Identification: These technologies reveal hidden flaws, misconfigurations, or out-of-date software, allowing security teams to prioritize remedial efforts according to possible threats. 

• Risk Assessment: Understanding the extent of an organization's digital assets and potential attack vectors enables educated risk assessments, which guide security resource allocation. 

• Attack Surface Mapping: Information gathering reveals what a potential attacker could see, making it easier to reduce the area of attack by closing unnecessary ports, updating software, or removing unintended information exposure. 

• Proactive Defense: Rather than merely responding to attacks, cyber security testing professionals can leverage the insights gained from information gathering to implement more proactive defensive mechanisms, instilling a sense of reassurance in the audience about the organization's robust security measures. 

By empowering organizations with a deeper understanding of their systems and potential threats, information gathering tools, along with security testing tools, are a cornerstone in ensuring successful QA testing and overall security posture. 

Top 9 Information Gathering Tools 

1. Whois Lookup & Domain Research 

WHOIS is an internet service that discloses the ownership data of websites. It is regulated by ICANN. Consider it a domain name directory; it reveals who registered a website, their contact information, and technical details such as the website's IP address.  

Features: 

• Provides information on the domain's registration date, expiration date, and last update. 

• Displays names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses linked with the domain. 

• Lists the nameservers in charge of routing traffic to the domain, which might offer information on the website's hosting. 

• Determines if the domain is live, dormant, or marked for possible problems (e.g., pending deletion). 

Pros: 

• Gives a clearer picture of who is behind a website, potentially aiding accountability. 

• Assists network administrators in resolving technical issues with a domain or website. 

• Helps businesses detect infringement of trademarks and take necessary actions. 

• Can be used to find the responsible parties in cases of phishing scams or the distribution of illegal content. 

Cons: 

• Exposes contact details of the domain owner, potentially leading to unsolicited emails or spam. 

• Actions taken against parties misusing domains can be difficult, especially when operating across international borders. 

• Registrants may not keep their contact details current, making it hard to reach relevant parties. 

• Domain owners can mask their identifying details through paid privacy protection services, rendering some WHOIS data less useful. 

2. Netcraft 

Netcraft provides cybersecurity solutions that protect businesses and their customers. They gather intelligence from global banks and security providers, and even analyze malicious emails to uncover the technologies websites use. 

Features: 

• Provides extensive details on the technologies powering a website. 

• Offers data and insights into the adoption of various web technologies 

• Scans websites for vulnerabilities, phishing risks, and potential malware injection points. 

• Archives data, enabling the analysis of how websites and their underlying technologies have evolved over time. 

• Provides tools and services to help businesses protect themselves and their customers from phishing attacks, including takedown services. 

Pros: 

• Uncovers the technology stack of competitors, facilitating strategic decision-making for businesses. 

• Allows companies to evaluate the security posture of their own websites and identify potential weaknesses. 

• Helps organizations choose the right web technologies for their needs based on market trends and security considerations. 

• Provides valuable data for companies researching potential business partnerships or acquisitions. 

• Actively works to identify and counter phishing threats, contributing to a safer internet experience. 

Cons: 

• Advanced features and in-depth reports typically involve subscription fees. 

• Effective use of Netcraft often requires some technical knowledge to understand the significance of various technological findings. 

• While comprehensive, there will always be niche technologies that might not be fully tracked. 

• The world of web technologies changes rapidly, requiring continuous data updates for accuracy. 

• Cannot directly fix vulnerabilities on external websites, only providing alerts and recommendations. 

3. IP2Location 

IP2Location is a powerful IP geolocation solution. At its core, it's a technology that translates IP addresses (the numerical identifiers of devices on the internet) into geographical and other related data. This information can be used for various purposes, such as targeted content delivery, online fraud prevention, and digital rights management. 

Features: 

• Provides details like country, region, city, latitude/longitude, ZIP code, time zone, ISP, domain name, connection type, elevation, and more. 

• Offers different database packages with varying levels of data granularity to suit specific business requirements. 

• Easily integrates into websites and applications through a REST API for real-time IP geolocation lookups. 

• Supports libraries for common programming languages like Java, Python, PHP, C#, and others. 

• IP2Location maintains a focus on accuracy with regular database updates. 

Pros: 

• Works without requiring explicit user permission, streamlining implementation. 

• The selection of database packages allows businesses to pay only for the data they need. 

• Designed for high-speed lookups, enabling smooth integration into website and application workflows. 

• Supports use cases including content localization, ad targeting, rights management, fraud detection, and network analytics. 

• Database updates help ensure the accuracy of IP geolocation data. 

Cons: 

• Commercial use involves license fees, although smaller packages can be cost-effective. 

• May be less accurate with IP addresses masked by proxies or VPNs, a common limitation of IP geolocation technologies. 

• While detailed, some use cases might require even finer location data that IP geolocation often cannot provide. 

• Collection and use of IP geolocation data must be handled responsibly with regard to user privacy. 

4. VirusTotal 

VirusTotal is a free online service, owned by Google, that allows users to scan suspicious files and URLs for malware and other malicious content. It leverages a massive collection of antivirus engines, website scanners, and file/URL analysis tools to provide a comprehensive and multi-perspective security assessment. 

Features: 

• Users can upload various file types (e.g., executables, documents, images) to be scanned by over 70 antivirus engines and security suites. 

• Users can submit URLs for scanning by website reputation services and malware detection tools. 

• VirusTotal provides in-depth reports listing detections from different security vendors, behavioral analysis, file metadata, and community comments. 

• Allows developers to integrate VirusTotal's scanning capabilities directly into their applications and systems. 

• Supports the use of YARA rules for creating custom detection patterns, aiding in advanced threat hunting. 

Pros: 

• The combined power of multiple antivirus engines significantly increases the chances of detecting malware, even zero-day threats. 

• The service is entirely free, making it an accessible security tool for individuals and businesses alike. 

• Multiple detections help identify potential false positives flagged by individual antivirus engines. 

• User contributions help to enhance the overall effectiveness and accuracy of the platform. 

• Features like YARA rule support enable advanced analysis for security researchers and analysts. 

Cons: 

• Uploaded files become available to antivirus vendors and security researchers, which might be a concern for confidential files. 

• Some users may misinterpret results if they lack technical knowledge, possibly making decisions based on the number of detections rather than their severity. 

• VirusTotal is primarily a scanning tool, not a real-time endpoint security solution 

• While behavioral analysis is offered, it may not be as in-depth as dedicated sandbox tools. 

5. Wayback Machine 

The Wayback Machine is a massive digital archive of the internet, operated by the non-profit Internet Archive. Think of it as a historical library for web pages. Its primary function is to capture and store snapshots of websites across time, allowing users to see how websites looked at various points in their history. 

Features: 

• The Wayback Machine has automated 'crawlers' that periodically scour the web, taking snapshots of publicly accessible web pages, code, and associated media. 

• Users can enter a URL and select a specific date or range of dates to view archived versions of that website. 

• While less precise, it does offer the ability to search for keywords within archived content. 

• Users can manually trigger an immediate capture of a webpage, adding it to the archive. 

• Developers can access the Wayback Machine data programmatically for research and other purposes. 

Pros: 

• Preserves a valuable history of the web, documenting how websites, content, and online trends have evolved. 

• Invaluable for researchers, historians, journalists, and anyone interested in tracking changes on the internet over time. 

• Helps address the issue of broken links and disappearing content. 

• Ensures cultural and informational artifacts of the web are not lost for future generations. 

Cons: 

• Despite its scale, the Wayback Machine cannot capture the entirety of the web, and some sites may be archived with less frequency. 

• Website owners can request that their sites not be archived by the Wayback Machine. 

• Archived websites may load slowly or exhibit broken functionality, as the original elements are not always perfectly preserved. 

• Some archived content could include outdated or potentially harmful information that lacks modern context. 

6. MXToolBox 

MXToolBox is a popular suite of online tools primarily focused on email-related diagnostics and troubleshooting. It offers a variety of free tools to help network administrators, web developers, and everyday users ensure their email infrastructure is working correctly. 

Features: 

• Checks the Mail Exchange (MX) records of a domain, responsible for routing emails to the correct mail servers. 

• Performs various DNS record lookups which are crucial for domain configuration. 

• Queries multiple blacklists to check if an IP address or domain has been flagged for sending spam or engaging in malicious activity. 

• Tests various aspects of the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), aiding in diagnosing email delivery issues. 

• Parses email headers, which can help track the path of an email or reveal potential spoofing attempts. 

• Network diagnostic tools that help identify connectivity issues and bottlenecks. 

Pros: 

• The core toolkit is entirely free, making it accessible to a wide range of users. 

• The interface is straightforward, and most tools don't require extensive technical knowledge to use effectively. 

• Provides essential tools to help identify and resolve common email deliverability and connectivity issues. 

• Offers network diagnostic tools that are useful for general web administration. 

• The service is regularly updated to stay current with email standards and technologies. 

Cons: 

• Some power users may find the tools lack depth compared to dedicated network diagnostic software. 

• While providing data, MXToolBox may not explicitly offer guidance on how to fix all identified issues. 

• The free version is supported by advertisements. 

• For casual users, some of the technical output may be overwhelming. 

7. Whatweb 

WhatWeb is a powerful open-source website reconnaissance tool. It's designed to fingerprint websites, uncovering the underlying technologies powering them. This information can be used for various purposes, including security audits, competitive analysis, and technology trend tracking. 

Features: 

• Detects many web technologies, including CMSs, web servers, JavaScript libraries, analytics platforms, web frameworks, and many more. 

• Identifies specific versions of detected technologies, which can aid in vulnerability assessments. 

• Over 1800 plugins to detect specific modules or extensions used on websites. 

• Allows users to control the balance between speed and accuracy. 

• Supports output in JSON, XML, CSV, and other formats for integration into other tools. 

Pros: 

• Identifies a vast array of web technologies, providing detailed insights into a website's tech stack. 

• Offers various options for customization and fine-tuning reconnaissance parameters. 

• Assists in identifying potentially outdated software versions that could pose vulnerabilities. 

• Freely available and benefits from community-driven development and plugin creation. 

• Can be incorporated into other web security and research workflows. 

Cons: 

• Effective interpretation of the results often requires some understanding of web technologies. 

• Websites can employ methods to obscure their technology stack, reducing WhatWeb's accuracy. 

• Aggressive scans can be noisy on the network, and finding the right balance for your use case is important. 

• Certain scan settings can trigger alerts on intrusion detection systems. 

8. Maltego 

Maltego is a powerful data visualization and intelligence-gathering tool primarily used for Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and investigations. It excels at uncovering relationships and connections between seemingly disparate pieces of information, such as people, websites, domains, companies, locations, and more. 

Features: 

• Maltego's core strength lies in its graphical interface, where data is represented as "Entities" (nodes) and their relationships as "Links" (edges). 

• Maltego integrates with numerous data sources, both open-source and commercial.  

• Supports importing data from various formats (CSV, etc.) and exporting findings into reports. 

• Maltego offers collaborative features for teams working on investigations together. 

• The platform allows for the creation of custom Transforms and fine-tuning of data analysis processes. 

Pros: 

• Maltego streamlines complex investigations by visualizing connections, making patterns easier to recognize. 

• Access to a wide range of data sources through Transforms, enabling comprehensive analysis. 

• Excels at finding non-obvious connections and identifying potential leads. 

• Used by cybersecurity analysts, investigators, journalists, fraud analysts, and more. 

• Customizable to adapt to specific investigative needs and workflows. 

Cons: 

• While a free 'Community Edition' exists, advanced features and commercial data integrations require a paid subscription. 

• Can have a steep learning curve for initial setup and mastering the use of Transforms. 

• The tool is only as good as the data it's fed. Misinterpretation or reliance on outdated information is possible. 

• The visual representation of data can potentially lead to biased analysis if not carefully considered. 

9. theHarvester 

theHarvester is an open-source OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tool designed to gather email addresses, subdomains, hostnames, open ports, banners, and employee names from various public sources. It's primarily used in the early reconnaissance phases of security assessments and penetration testing. 

Features: 

• Scans sources like search engines (e.g., Google, Bing), PGP key servers, and Linkedin to find email addresses associated with a target domain. 

• Discovers subdomains of a target domain using search engines, DNS brute-forcing, and other techniques. 

• Identifies virtual hosts used within a given domain. 

• Can conduct lightweight port scans to reveal potentially open services. 

• Retrieves banners from open services, aiding in version identification and potential vulnerability detection. 

Pros: 

• Provides an initial view of an organization's online footprint without directly interacting with their systems. 

• Offers a relatively straightforward command-line interface. 

• Output can be used as input for other vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools. 

• Helps uncover basic attack surface information for further exploration. 

Cons: 

• Primarily focused on a few categories of data compared to more comprehensive OSINT tools. 

• Results may contain false positives or outdated data, requiring verification. 

• Search engine-based discovery can trigger alerts or result in search engines temporarily blocking requests. 

• Often used in conjunction with other tools to offer a more complete intelligence picture. 

Information Gathering in Cyber Security Testing: Your Key to a Secure Future 

From understanding domain infrastructure to unearthing leaked data, these powerful resources equip cybersecurity professionals with the intelligence they need to fortify digital defenses.  

While each tool brings unique strengths, its collective power lies in revealing hidden vulnerabilities, potential risks, and a comprehensive view of your systems - knowledge that's key for proactive protection. 

By strategically using these information gathering instruments, companies can enhance their security posture, protect valuable assets, and safeguard their QA testing services.  

Remember, in the ever-evolving cyber security testing landscape, staying ahead of threats means arming yourself with the right tools and the most accurate information.