OSINT Tools: Social Mapper

What is Social Mapper?

Social Mapper is a Python-based tool that automates the process of identifying and correlating social media profiles. It can be used for various purposes, including reconnaissance, online investigations, and digital identity verification. By inputting a target’s name and a picture, Social Mapper scours multiple social media platforms to uncover related profiles, making it an invaluable resource for online research.

Installation

Before we dive into using Social Mapper, let’s start with the installation process. Social Mapper is built using Python, so you’ll need to have Python and some prerequisite libraries installed.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the following prerequisites:

1. Python: Make sure you have Python 3.x installed on your system. You can download Python from the official Python website.
2. PIP: PIP is Python’s package manager, and it’s usually included with Python installations. However, if it’s missing, you can install it separately.

Installation Steps

Follow these steps to install Social Mapper:

1. Clone the GitHub Repository:Open your terminal or command prompt and run the following command to clone the Social Mapper GitHub repository to your local machine:bash

git clone https://github.com/SpiderLabs/social_mapper.git

Navigate to the Social Mapper Directory:

Change your working directory to the newly cloned repository:

bash

cd social_mapper

Install Required Dependencies:

Run the following command to install the required Python libraries for Social Mapper:

bash

1. pip install -r requirements.txt This command will install the necessary libraries, including face_recognition for facial recognition.
2. Download and Configure Resources:Social Mapper relies on facial recognition data and APIs to function effectively. You will need to download pre-trained face recognition models and configure API keys for various social media platforms. Follow the instructions in the Social Mapper documentation for this step.
3. Configure Social Mapper:Customize the config.yaml file to specify your API keys and other configuration options according to the Social Mapper documentation.

Using Social Mapper

Now that you have Social Mapper installed and configured, let’s explore how to use it for uncovering social media profiles.

Basic Usage

To perform a basic Social Mapper search, use the following command format:

bash

python social_mapper.py -f <input_file> -i <input_type> -m <mode>

• <input_file>: Provide a text file containing the names and file paths of the targets.
• <input_type>: Specify the input type as either list or csv.
• <mode>: Choose the search mode (e.g., fast or accurate).

For example, to search for social media profiles using a list of names in a file named targets.txt in fast mode:

bash

python social_mapper.py -f targets.txt -i list -m fast

Advanced Options

Social Mapper offers various advanced options for customizing your searches, such as specifying target platforms, using multiple input files, and configuring output formats. Refer to the Social Mapper documentation for a comprehensive list of options and examples.

Responsible Use of Social Mapper

It’s crucial to use Social Mapper responsibly and ethically. Ensure that you have explicit permission to perform searches on individuals, and respect the terms of service of the social media platforms you query. Never use Social Mapper for malicious purposes or to collect sensitive information without proper authorization.

In conclusion, Social Mapper is a powerful tool for uncovering digital identities and correlating social media profiles. By following the installation steps and understanding how to use it effectively, you can enhance your online investigations and digital footprint analysis. Happy mapping!