In the context of cybersecurity, information gathering refers to the process of collecting and analyzing data about a target system or network in order to identify potential vulnerabilities or threats. Information gathering can be an important part of a variety of cybersecurity activities, including vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and incident response.
There are several different techniques that can be used for information gathering in cybersecurity, including:
- Network scanning: This involves using tools like Nmap to scan the target network for open ports and services. This can help identify potential targets and gather information about the network architecture and configuration.
- Social engineering: This involves using psychological manipulation or deception to trick people into revealing sensitive information or granting access to restricted areas. Social engineering can be effective in gathering information that is not readily available through other means.
- Web application analysis: This involves analyzing the structure and functionality of a target web application to identify potential vulnerabilities. Tools like BurpSuite can be used to intercept and analyze traffic between the web application and the user’s browser.
- Public records searches: This involves searching public databases and records for information about the target organization or individuals. This can include things like company registration records, property records, and social media profiles.
- Physical reconnaissance: This involves physically visiting the target location and gathering information about the layout and security measures in place. This can include things like observing security protocols, taking pictures, or collecting discarded materials that might contain sensitive information.
Consider a scenario where you are trying to break into a house as “A Thief Maybe” Of course; you’re not a thief. But imagine you’re a thief trying to perform reconnaissance or gather information on a house you’re planning to break into; what do you think you’ll be on the lookout for….. How about popping answers in the comment. Moving forward, you’ll probably want to see if they’ve got a wooden window or if it’s made from glass, if their window is always open or if they leave their door open at all times, and if there is a CCTV mounted, the type of locks they use e.t.c. I have a limited idea on this because I haven’t broken into a house before. Back to cyber, the more information you’re able to gather, the more chance you have of having a good result in the end, and thus, information gathering should be mastered. It should also be noted that information gathering is necessary because the information gathered on a victim can be used when guessing passwords, among other attacks. To get started with information gathering, we need to identify our target, and also, knowing our target would help us in deciding whether we should go for active or passive reconnaissance. I’ll explain both, of course.
Passive reconnaissance can best be explained as when you try to gather information on an asset without interacting with the said asset. This simply means you’re doing information gathering, but the asset or target doesn’t know you are gathering information. This can be done via Google Hacking, Shodan, using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT).Active reconnaissance, on the other hand, can be seen as gathering information on an asset or target whilst still interacting with the said target. This could be trying to find open ports with the aid of NMAP. Finding vulnerabilities using Nessus or Nikto.
It’s important to note that information gathering should be conducted ethically and within the bounds of the law. In the context of cybersecurity, this means obtaining consent from the target and respecting any privacy or security measures in place.
Overall, information gathering is a critical part of effective cybersecurity, as it allows security professionals to gather the information they need to identify and mitigate potential threats to the target system.
I know I’ve mentioned a lot of tools but do not feel overwhelmed. You will definitely get the hang of all these tools.That being said, it’s pretty much decent to conclude on what information gathering does entail, and this is just the basics. Every tool mentioned and method will be explained fully in upcoming posts, and there will be videos guiding you on how to get started with all these tools and finally, be on the lookout for our next post, “Identifying our targets”, because there is no reconnaissance without a target. I do hope you find this post simple to understand. Do not forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you can get notified when there’s a new post.
