Overview

Statistics indicate that over 4.5 billion records of data were compromised in the past years. With hackers increasingly adopting modern cyber tools, these figures will only increase in 2024. So what is recon or reconnaissance? One strategy that hackers use when attacking a system is to gather relevant information about the target. This step is called reconnaissance. 

According to the Lockheed-Martin Corporation, reconnaissance is the initial step in a cyber-kill chain. The Recon step involves research, identification and selection of targets and attempts to identify vulnerabilities in the target network. 

Here are some of the top recon tools:

1. FireCompass

Firecompass uses elaborate reconnaissance techniques same like the nation-state actors and the platform automatically discovers an organization’s dynamic digital attack surface, including unknown exposed databases, cloud buckets, code leaks, exposed credentials, risky cloud assets, and open ports & more. 

• Continuous Reconnaissance for a Dynamic Perimeter
• Discover your external attack surface, shadow risks and complete asset inventory
• Identify all possible vulnerabilities from known and unknown assets

Learn More About AI Powered FireCompass Continuous RECON Platform

 

2. Maltego CE 

Maltego is a interactive data mining tool that presents data informed by graphs for analysis. The tool is mainly applied for online investigations to provide links between pieces of information from various sources. 

How It Helps You :

• Maltego can be used for the information gathering phase of all security-related work. It will save you time and will allow you to work more accurately and smarter.
• Maltego provides you with a much more powerful search, giving you smarter results. If access to “hidden” information determines your success, Maltego can help you discover it.
• Maltego aids you in your thinking process by visually demonstrating interconnected links between searched items.

 

3. Google

For every penetration tester, Google should be the first tool to use for continuous cyber recon. Google and other search engines like Bing are vital during reconnaissance because it provides vital data about individuals, companies, and data including leaked content. The obtained information is free and can help to determine the direction a penetration tester will take. 

 

4. Recon- NG

Recon-Ng is a web-based web reconnaissance tool written in Python. This tool is mainly applied by pen testers seeking web-based information. Recon-NG is preferred due to its intuitive functionalities making it fast and effective to gather a lot of data quickly. More details on links here and here

5. Shodan

Shodan is among the first search engines for internet-connected devices. With servers located all over the world, it provides real-time intelligence regarding attest technological trends. It also has APIs that other recon tools like Nmap, Metasploit, Maltego, and FOCA use for analysis. Click here for more details.