Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Blackbird OSINT VS theHarvester OSINT Tool

Compare Blackbird OSINT VS theHarvester OSINT Tool and see what are their differences

Blackbird OSINT logo Blackbird OSINT

An OSINT tool to search for accounts by username in social networks.

theHarvester OSINT Tool logo theHarvester OSINT Tool

theHarvester is a very simple, yet effective tool designed to be used in the early
  • Blackbird OSINT Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19
  • theHarvester OSINT Tool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-09

Blackbird OSINT features and specs

  • Open Source
    Blackbird OSINT is open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This allows for community contributions and transparency in its development process.
  • Comprehensive OSINT Tool
    Blackbird OSINT provides a range of features for gathering intelligence from social media and other online sources, making it a powerful tool for researchers and investigators.
  • Privacy-Focused
    The tool is designed to perform passive reconnaissance, minimizing interaction with the target and reducing the risk of detection or alerting the target.
  • Regular Updates
    The software is under active development with frequent updates and improvements, ensuring that it stays relevant with current OSINT techniques and sources.
  • Community Support
    As an open-source project, Blackbird OSINT benefits from a community of users and developers who can provide support, share tips, and contribute to its development.

Possible disadvantages of Blackbird OSINT

  • Technical Expertise Required
    Users need a certain level of technical knowledge to effectively install and use Blackbird OSINT, which can be a barrier for non-technical users.
  • Limited to Public Information
    As an OSINT tool, Blackbird OSINT is limited to publicly available data, which may not be sufficient for all investigative needs.
  • Potential Legal and Ethical Issues
    Using Blackbird OSINT for data collection can raise legal and ethical concerns, especially if not used responsibly or if targeting individuals without consent.
  • Dependency Management
    The installation and proper functioning of Blackbird OSINT can require management of multiple dependencies, which can complicate setup and maintenance.
  • Variable Data Quality
    The accuracy and completeness of the data gathered depend on the sources and how frequently they are updated or maintained.

theHarvester OSINT Tool features and specs

  • Comprehensive Data Collection
    theHarvester aggregates information from multiple search engines and data sources, providing extensive details for penetration testers and security analysts.
  • Ease of Use
    The tool has a straightforward command-line interface, making it accessible for beginners and efficient for experienced users.
  • Customizable Queries
    Users can tailor their searches by specifying parameters to focus on specific types of information or sources, enhancing flexibility.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, theHarvester allows for community contributions, modifications, and integration with other tools, fostering continuous improvement.
  • Cross-Platform
    It can run on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, providing versatility across different environments.

Possible disadvantages of theHarvester OSINT Tool

  • Rate Limiting
    Searches are subject to rate limits imposed by data sources, which can slow data collection or block queries if limits are exceeded.
  • False Positives
    The tool may return outdated or irrelevant data, necessitating additional verification steps to ensure information accuracy.
  • Dependence on External Sources
    The quality and quantity of gathered data depend heavily on the availability and permission of external providers, which may change over time.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    Compared to some commercial alternatives, theHarvester may lack advanced features like graphical data visualization or extensive automated reporting.
  • Limited Social Media Analysis
    The tool is primarily designed for gathering information from web sources rather than social media platforms, where deeper analysis might be beneficial.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Blackbird OSINT and theHarvester OSINT Tool)
Security & Privacy
53 53%
47% 47
Cyber Security
47 47%
53% 53
Tool
54 54%
46% 46
Law Enforcement And Public Safety

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Blackbird OSINT and theHarvester OSINT Tool, you can also consider the following products

SpiderFoot - Open source intelligence (OSINT) automation tool.

sn0int - sn0int is a semi-automatic OSINT framework and package manager

Maltego - Maltego is an open source intelligence and forensics application.

DataWalk - DataWalk is a software platform to connect numerous large data sets, both external and internal, into a single repository for fast visual analysis.

OWASP Amass - An advanced open source tool to help information security professionals perform network mapping of attack surfaces and external asset discovery using open source information gathering and active reconnaissance techniques!

LinkScope Client - Repository for the LinkScope Client software.