Introduction to Footprinting and reconnaissance

Footprinting and reconnaissance are essential and foundational phases in the field of cybersecurity. These initial steps involve gathering information and understanding the target’s digital footprint before launching any attack. For beginners, this process may seem like detective work, as it requires careful investigation and analysis of publicly available data. By exploring various online sources like websites, social media, search engines, and domain registries, one can paint a clearer picture of an organization’s infrastructure, employees, technology, and potential vulnerabilities.

C99 Subdomain Finder

A website that allows you to find subdomains of a given domain. It does this by crawling the DNS records of the domain and looking for subdomains that are registered. The website also provides a number of other features, such as the ability to export the list of subdomains to a CSV file, and to search for subdomains that match a specific pattern.

Overall, subdomainfinder.c99.nl is a useful tool for finding subdomains of a given domain. It is free, easy to use, and accurate. However, it is important to note that the tool only finds subdomains that are registered, and it does not find subdomains that are hidden.

TOOL – C99 SUBDOMAIN FINDER

The Wayback Machine & URLs

The Wayback Machine is an online archive of the World Wide Web created by the Internet Archive. It allows you to see archived versions of websites, dating back to 1996.

To use the Wayback Machine, simply enter the URL of the website you want to view in the search bar. The Wayback Machine will then show you a list of archived versions and urls of the website, dating back to the earliest archived version. You can then select a specific date and time to view the website as it appeared on that date.

TOOL – THE WAYBACK MACHINE

Shodan

Shodan is a search engine that allows you to search for internet-connected devices. It does this by crawling the internet and looking for devices that are running services that are accessible from the internet. Shodan can be used to find a wide variety of devices, including routers, servers, webcams, and even industrial control systems. 

Shodan is a powerful tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Security research: Shodan can be used to find security vulnerabilities in internet-connected devices. This information can be used to improve the security of these devices.

• Network mapping: Shodan can be used to map out networks of internet-connected devices. This information can be used to understand how networks are connected and to identify potential security risks. 

• Threat intelligence: Shodan can be used to collect information about threat actors. This information can be used to understand the tactics and techniques of threat actors and to protect against their attacks.

Shodan is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to understand the internet of things. However, it is important to note that Shodan can also be used for malicious purposes. For example, Shodan can be used to find vulnerable devices that can be exploited by attackers.

TOOL – SHODAN.IO

Netcraft

Netcraft is a website that provides information about the internet, including web server and web hosting market-share analysis, uptime monitoring, and security information.

Netcraft’s website provides a number of tools and resources for internet users, including:

• Web server and web hosting market share analysis: Netcraft tracks the market share of web servers and web hosting providers. This information can be used to understand the popularity of different web servers and hosting providers.

• Uptime monitoring: Netcraft monitors the uptime of websites. This information can be used to identify websites that are experiencing downtime.

• Security information: Netcraft provides security information about websites, including the detection of malicious code and phishing attacks.

Netcraft’s website is a valuable resource for internet users who want to learn more about the internet and to protect their online security.

TOOL – NETCRAFT 

Wappalyzer

Wappalyzer is a technology profiler that shows you what websites are built with. It does this by analyzing the website’s code and identifying the technologies that are being used. Wappalyzer can identify a wide range of technologies, including CMSs, frameworks, programming languages, analytics tools, and more.

Wappalyzer is a freemium tool. The free version of Wappalyzer allows you to identify the technologies that are being used on a website. The paid version of Wappalyzer provides additional features, such as the ability to identify the version of a technology that is being used and the ability to track changes in the technologies that are being used on a website.

TOOL – WAPPALYZER

Conclusion

In conclusion, the world of cybersecurity is constantly evolving, and the importance of effective footprinting and reconnaissance cannot be overstated. In this blog, we explored the top five online tools that you should be familiar with in 2023: Netcraft, Shodan, C99, Wappalyzer, and the Wayback Machine.

Netcraft proved to be an invaluable resource for gathering domain and server information, helping us assess potential security risks. Shodan, on the other hand, opened up a whole new world by allowing us to search for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and exposed services, reminding us of the criticality of securing these interconnected devices.

The C99 webshell emerged as a powerful tool, underscoring the need for web application security. Meanwhile, Wappalyzer provided an easy way to identify technologies used on websites, aiding us in recognizing and mitigating potential vulnerabilities.

Lastly, the Wayback Machine offered a unique glimpse into historical website data, assisting us in understanding past configurations and changes that might have impacted security.

As we move forward into 2023 and beyond, it is essential to keep abreast of the latest tools and techniques in the realm of footprinting and reconnaissance. Continuously enhancing our knowledge and skillset will enable us to better protect organizations and individuals from potential threats and security breaches.

Remember, responsible use of these tools is paramount. Always obtain proper authorization before conducting any reconnaissance, and adhere to ethical guidelines to ensure a safer and more secure digital landscape for everyone. Happy footprinting and reconnaissance!