Authorized OSINT field guide · 2026-06-22

OSINT tools FAQ

Short answers for choosing tools and keeping the work inside a defensive boundary.

Start safely Review sources

Is OSINT legal?

Public-source research can be legitimate, but permission, purpose and jurisdiction still matter.

Should I start with SpiderFoot?

Use SpiderFoot when you need broad enrichment. Use focused lookup tools when you only need one class of signal.

Is passive lookup safer?

Usually yes, because it relies on third-party indexes rather than touching target infrastructure directly.