Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is a vital component of cybersecurity research and threat hunting. It enables security professionals, investigators, and researchers to gather intelligence from publicly available sources. Within OSINT, there are several subcategories of tools, each designed to serve specific investigative needs.
One of the most important categories is Technical Asset Discovery, also known as Network Scanning and Fingerprinting. These tools focus on identifying exposed hosts, open ports, running services, and digital infrastructure across the internet. By mapping the “attack surface,” they provide the foundation for vulnerability analysis, red teaming, and defensive security strategies.
Below are the Top 5 tools in this category.
Shodan
Website:
Description:
- Shodan is often called the “search engine for connected devices.” It continuously scans the internet, indexing banners, ports, and metadata from exposed hosts and services.
Best for:
- Discovering exposed services and IoT devices.
Who is it for:
- Security researchers, penetration testers, attack surface management teams.
Top features:
- Searchable database of IPs, ports, and banners
- Filters by organization, location, or technology
- Alerts for newly exposed assets
- API support for automation
Censys
Website:
Description:
- Censys provides in-depth internet-wide scanning and a structured database of services, certificates, and hosts. Known for its data quality and research focus, it allows detailed queries about protocols and SSL/TLS certificates.
Best for:
- Infrastructure analysis and compliance monitoring.
Who is it for:
- Academic researchers, enterprise security teams, digital forensics experts.
Top features:
- Comprehensive SSL/TLS certificate data
- Query-based search with structured filters
- Internet-wide scanning results updated regularly
- API and data exports for analysis
ZoomEye
Website:
Description:
- ZoomEye, developed in China, is a global cyberspace search engine. It indexes services and websites through port scanning and banner grabbing, with a large dataset useful for both attack and defense research.
Best for:
- Threat hunting and adversary infrastructure discovery.
Who is it for:
- Red teamers, OSINT analysts, security vendors in APAC.
Top features:
- Search by IP, domain, port, service, or banner string
- Geolocation filters for regional investigations
- Dataset focused on both web and non-web services
- API support with flexible query syntax
BinaryEdge
Website:
Description:
- BinaryEdge focuses on internet-wide scanning for cyber risk management. It provides data feeds on exposed services, vulnerabilities, and cloud assets, often used by enterprises for monitoring their digital footprint.
Best for:
- Attack surface monitoring and enterprise risk management.
Who is it for:
- Enterprises, MSSPs, financial institutions.
Top features:
- Exposure data for services and cloud assets
- Customizable feeds for integration into SIEM/SOAR
- Insights on vulnerable infrastructure
- Subscription models for continuous monitoring
Netlas
Website:
Description:
- Netlas is a modern network intelligence platform offering fast and customizable queries across internet assets. It combines banner data, certificates, and metadata to support both reconnaissance and defensive monitoring.
Best for:
- Flexible asset discovery and OSINT investigations.
Who is it for:
- Security analysts, penetration testers, threat hunters.
Top features:
- Real-time search engine for internet-connected assets
- SSL/TLS certificate and service metadata queries
- JSON-based results for automation workflows
- Strong focus on speed and modern interface
Conclusion
Technical Asset Discovery tools are the backbone of OSINT investigations into the digital attack surface. Platforms like Shodan, Censys, ZoomEye, BinaryEdge, and Netlas empower security teams to identify exposed infrastructure, monitor changes, and anticipate threats. Whether for academic research, enterprise defense, or offensive security testing, these tools are indispensable in modern cybersecurity practice.
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