TuesdayTool 15: Maltego, A One-Stop Shop For OSINT

Introduction

Some years ago when I started my journey in OSINT and Threat Intelligence, I collected some data that created a pointer to a particular threat actor but I could not map the data together. As you will agree with me suspicion can only be verified with evidence. I was almost on the verge of giving up on the data I had used days to collect until my colleague mentioned a tool that helped me solve the riddle and provided evidence.

Folks, the tool is called Maltego!

Importing all the collected data into Maltego assisted me in mapping the data together and gave a pointer to the entity (threat actor).

Maltego

What is Maltego?

Maltego is an open-source tool. It is an aggregator of interfaces to various OSINT databases. It serves as a central dashboard for various open-source tools such as ‘Virus Total’, ‘abuseipdb’, ‘whois’ etc. It produces a single result from various other open-source tools. Maltego can scan a target website, but then it lets its users effortlessly apply what it calls “Transforms” from its ecosystem to connect the web information using a graphical link analysis tool. It provides visual connections within complex data sets, displaying interconnected links. Maltego achieves this by analyzing information from various sources such as public websites, email addresses, social media, and cryptocurrency transactions. Maltego assists in uncovering hidden relationships and patterns of an entity. ‘Entity’ here means object under investigation which may include but is not limited to IP address, website, email address, GitHub user, phone number, bitcoin address, etc.

Who can use Maltego?

1. Penetration testers
2. Cybercrime investigator
3. Threat intelligence analyst
4. Digital forensics professional
5. OSINT analyst etc.

To use Maltego, follow these basic steps:

1. Download and Install: First, download Maltego from the official website. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
2. Create an Account: You will need to create an account and verify your email address.
3. Launch the Application: After installation, launch the application and log in with your account details.
4. Choose Your Graph: In the main interface, you can start a new graph. Graphs in Maltego are visual representations of your OSINT data.
5. Set Up Entities: Entities are essentially nodes on your graph. They represent the pieces of information you want to investigate. For example, an entity might be a person, a website, an email address, etc.
6. Run Transforms: Transforms are processes that take one piece of information (an entity) and return related pieces of information. For example, you might run a transform that takes a website entity and returns all the email addresses associated with that website.
7. Analyze Results: Once you’ve run some transforms, you can analyze the results. Maltego provides tools for sorting, grouping, and filtering entities to help you find the information you’re looking for.

You can also do the following in Maltego:

1. Export Data: If you need to share your findings or use them in another tool, Maltego allows you to export your graph and the data it contains. You can export in various formats including CSV, XLS, or a Maltego-specific format.
2. Adjust Preferences: Maltego offers a range of customization options to suit your working style. You can adjust the look of your graph, set your preferred entities and transforms, and more in the settings.
3. Stay Updated: Maltego regularly releases updates and new features. Make sure to keep your software up-to-date to benefit from these enhancements.

Fun fact: I was interviewed by Maltego in 2021 as one of the Women in OSINT. Read my interview here.

Conclusion

Remember, Maltego is just one tool in your OSINT toolkit. It’s powerful, but it’s not the only resource you have at your disposal. Just like any tool, the effectiveness of Maltego largely depends on the user’s skill and understanding of the tool. Take your time to learn the functionalities and best practices to get the most out of it.

Till I come your way again next week Tuesday, #BeCyberSmart

Cyberliza writes TuesdayTool