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SpiderFoot

Information Gathering

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SpiderFoot is an open-source intelligence (OSINT) automation tool that integrates with over 200 public data sources to gather comprehensive intelligence on IP addresses, domain names, email addresses, and names. Created by Steve Micallef in 2012 and released under the MIT license, SpiderFoot automates the entire OSINT collection process with a powerful correlation engine that links findings across multiple data sources. It provides both a web-based UI (SpiderFoot HX) with interactive visualizations and a CLI for automation, making it one of the most popular OSINT frameworks for penetration testers, threat intelligence analysts, and security researchers. SpiderFoot is intended exclusively for authorized security testing, educational purposes, and defensive research.

Installation

sudo apt install spiderfoot

Basic Syntax

spiderfoot -l 127.0.0.1:5001

Quick Facts

Full Name
SpiderFoot
License
MIT
Author
Steve Micallef
Written In
Python
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Windows
Category
OSINT Automation
First Release
2012
Data Sources
200+ modules
Interface
Web UI + CLI + REST API
Output Formats
JSON, CSV, HTML

Tool Overview

SpiderFoot is an open-source intelligence (OSINT) automation tool that integrates with over 200 public data sources to gather comprehensive intelligence on IP addresses, domains, email addresses, and names. It provides both a web-based UI (SpiderFoot HX) with interactive visualizations and a CLI for automation and scripting.

Created by Steve Micallef in 2012 and released under the MIT license, SpiderFoot automates the entire OSINT collection process. Its correlation engine automatically links findings across different data sources, creating a comprehensive intelligence picture without manual analysis. This makes it invaluable for penetration testers, threat intelligence analysts, and security researchers.

The tool includes SpiderFoot HX, a modern web interface with interactive correlation graphs, a dashboard for managing scans, and settings for configuring API keys. The CLI mode enables automation and integration into penetration testing pipelines, scheduled scans, and threat intelligence workflows.

SpiderFoot is intended exclusively for authorized security testing, educational purposes, and defensive research. Always obtain proper authorization before investigating any target.

Common Commands

spiderfoot -l 127.0.0.1:5001Launch web portal - Start the interactive SpiderFoot HX web interface server locally on port 5001
spiderfoot -s target.comRun a CLI scan against a target domain using default modules
spiderfoot -s target.com -m allRun all available OSINT modules against the target for comprehensive intelligence gathering
spiderfoot -s target.com -o jsonRun a scan and output results in JSON format for integration with other tools
spiderfoot -lList all available SpiderFoot modules with their descriptions and data requirements
spiderfoot -s example.comScan a target domain
spiderfoot -s example.com -m sfp_dnsresolveRun specific module
spiderfoot -lList all available modules
spiderfoot -MList all module groups
spiderfoot -s example.com -t DOMAIN_NAMEScan specific seed type
spiderfoot -s example.com -o jsonJSON output
spiderfoot -s example.com -o csvCSV output
spiderfoot -s 192.168.1.100 -t IP_ADDRESSScan IP address
spiderfoot -s admin@example.com -t EMAILADDRScan email address
spiderfoot -s example.com -xExclude passive modules

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. 1Install SpiderFoot using your package manager or from the official GitHub repository
  2. 2Launch the web interface with spiderfoot -l 127.0.0.1:5001 and open in browser
  3. 3Configure API keys in Settings for Shodan, VirusTotal, HaveIBeenPwned, and other data sources
  4. 4Add your target (domain, IP, email, or name) in the New Scan section
  5. 5Select relevant OSINT modules for your engagement type or use default selection
  6. 6Run the scan and monitor progress in the Scan Results dashboard
  7. 7Analyze correlation graphs and tabular results to identify key intelligence findings
  8. 8Export results as JSON, CSV, or HTML report for documentation and sharing

Warnings

Use Cases

Automated OSINT

Run 200+ intelligence modules automatically against a target for comprehensive reconnaissance.

Threat Intelligence

Investigate threat actors, suspicious infrastructure, and indicators of compromise.

Attack Surface Discovery

Discover and correlate all internet-facing assets, subdomains, and exposed services.

Correlation Analysis

Automatically link findings across multiple data sources to create unified intelligence.

Brand Monitoring

Detect typosquatting, impersonation, and brand abuse across domains and certificates.

Incident Response

Gather intelligence on compromised systems, malicious domains, and attack infrastructure.

Key Features

Best Practices

Common Errors

Module failed to run: API key required
Configure API keys in the web UI Settings section. Start with Shodan (free tier) and VirusTotal (free API key).
SpiderFoot won't start: port already in use
Kill existing processes: pkill -f spiderfoot. Or use a different port: spiderfoot -l 127.0.0.1:5002
Scan hangs or is extremely slow
Select specific modules instead of all. Use: spiderfoot -s target -m sfp_shodan,sfp_dnsresolve,sfp_certificate
No results returned from scan
Verify target accessibility. Check API key configuration. Test with a known-good target first.
Python dependency error: No module named 'spiderfoot'
Reinstall: pip3 install spiderfoot. Or clone from GitHub and run: python3 spiderfoot.py
Docker container won't build or start
Update Docker to latest version. Ensure at least 2GB RAM allocated. Use: docker run -p 5001:5001 spiderfoot
API rate limit exceeded
Reduce thread count in settings. Use targeted modules instead of all. Wait before retrying.
Web UI not accessible in browser
Check firewall rules. Ensure SpiderFoot is running on 0.0.0.0 for network access or 127.0.0.1 for local.

People Also Ask

What is SpiderFoot and how do I use it?

SpiderFoot is an OSINT automation tool with 200+ modules that gather intelligence on IPs, domains, emails, and names. Launch the web UI with `spiderfoot -l 127.0.0.1:5001`, add your target, select modules, and run the scan. Results appear as correlation graphs and searchable tables.

How do I start the SpiderFoot web UI?

Run `sf.py -l 127.0.0.1:5001` or `spiderfoot -l 127.0.0.1:5001` to start SpiderFoot HX on port 5001. Open `http://127.0.0.1:5001` in your browser. From the dashboard, you can add targets, configure API keys in Settings, and launch scans.

Do I need API keys for SpiderFoot modules?

Many of SpiderFoot's 200+ modules require API keys for sources like Shodan, VirusTotal, and HaveIBeenPwned. Without keys, those modules silently fail or return empty results. Configure keys in the web UI Settings section before scanning.

What is the difference between SpiderFoot, Recon-ng, and Maltego?

SpiderFoot automates OSINT with 200+ modules and a correlation engine. Recon-ng provides a modular framework with manual module execution, database storage, and a Python API. Maltego offers interactive visual link analysis. SpiderFoot excels at automation; Recon-ng at structured workflows; Maltego at visual investigation.

What is SpiderFoot HX vs the open-source version?

SpiderFoot HX is the web-based UI included with the open-source SpiderFoot installation. It provides interactive correlation graphs, a scan dashboard, and module configuration. A commercial cloud version (SpiderFoot HX Cloud) exists for enterprise use, but the open-source version includes full functionality.

How long does a SpiderFoot scan take?

A targeted scan with 5-10 modules takes 5-15 minutes. Running all 200+ modules against a domain can take 1-4 hours. Use the -m flag to select specific modules for faster results, and monitor progress in the web UI to catch stuck modules.

Learning Path

  1. 1
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theHarvester

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Shodan

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Subfinder

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Dig

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DNSRecon

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WhatWeb

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is SpiderFoot?

SpiderFoot is an open-source intelligence (OSINT) automation tool that integrates with over 200 public data sources to gather comprehensive intelligence on IP addresses, domains, email addresses, and names. Created by Steve Micallef in 2012, it provides both a web-based UI (SpiderFoot HX) with interactive visualizations and a CLI for automation. SpiderFoot is used by penetration testers, threat intelligence analysts, and security researchers for authorized reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.

How does SpiderFoot work?

SpiderFoot works by running modules against a target (domain, IP, email, or name) to collect intelligence from 200+ public data sources. Its correlation engine automatically links related findings across different modules, creating a unified intelligence picture. Results are displayed in an interactive web UI with correlation graphs and searchable tables.

Is SpiderFoot free?

Yes, SpiderFoot is completely free and open source under the MIT license. The web interface (SpiderFoot HX) is also free. A commercial cloud version (SpiderFoot HX Cloud) is available for enterprise use, but the open-source version provides full functionality for authorized security testing and educational purposes.

Who developed SpiderFoot?

SpiderFoot was created by Steve Micallef in 2012 and has been actively maintained as an open-source project. The community contributes modules and improvements, and SpiderFoot HX (the web interface) was developed to provide a modern, interactive experience for OSINT investigations.

Is SpiderFoot open source?

Yes, SpiderFoot is fully open source under the MIT license. The complete source code is available on GitHub, allowing security professionals to review, modify, and extend the framework. The open-source nature enables transparency, community contributions, and customization for specific use cases.

Can beginners learn SpiderFoot?

SpiderFoot is classified as an intermediate tool, but beginners can start with the web UI which provides a user-friendly interface for running scans and viewing results. Start with a small set of modules against your own domain, then gradually explore more modules and the CLI as you gain experience.

What is SpiderFoot used for?

SpiderFoot is used for automated OSINT gathering, threat intelligence investigations, attack surface discovery, brand monitoring, vendor security assessments, and background checks. Security professionals use it to automate the reconnaissance process that would otherwise require running dozens of individual tools manually.

Is SpiderFoot good for OSINT?

Yes, SpiderFoot is one of the most comprehensive OSINT automation tools available. Its 200+ modules cover DNS, WHOIS, search engines, threat intelligence, social media, breach data, SSL certificates, and more. The correlation engine automatically links findings across sources, which is a significant advantage over manual OSINT approaches.

SpiderFoot vs theHarvester?

SpiderFoot automates the entire OSINT process with 200+ modules, a correlation engine, and web UI. theHarvester focuses specifically on email and subdomain discovery from public sources. SpiderFoot is better for comprehensive intelligence gathering; theHarvester excels at quick, focused email and subdomain enumeration.

SpiderFoot vs Recon-ng?

SpiderFoot automates OSINT collection with a correlation engine and web UI. Recon-ng provides a modular framework with manual module execution, database storage, and a Python API. SpiderFoot is better for automation and correlation; Recon-ng offers more control, structured workflows, and database-backed result management.

SpiderFoot vs Amass?

SpiderFoot provides broad OSINT automation across 200+ data sources with correlation analysis. Amass focuses specifically on deep attack surface discovery and subdomain enumeration using DNS analysis and network mapping. SpiderFoot is better for comprehensive multi-source intelligence; Amass excels at infrastructure and subdomain discovery.

SpiderFoot vs Maltego?

SpiderFoot automates OSINT collection with a web-based correlation engine. Maltego provides visual link analysis with interactive graph-based investigation. SpiderFoot is better for automated bulk intelligence gathering; Maltego excels at interactive, visual relationship mapping and investigation.

How many modules does SpiderFoot have?

SpiderFoot includes over 200 modules organized by category: DNS resolution, WHOIS lookup, search engine queries, threat intelligence feeds, social media profiles, breach data checks, SSL certificate analysis, network information, and more. Some modules require API keys for full functionality.

Does SpiderFoot have a web interface?

Yes, SpiderFoot includes SpiderFoot HX, a modern web-based UI that provides interactive visualizations, correlation graphs, a dashboard for managing scans, and settings for configuring API keys. The web interface is the recommended way to use SpiderFoot for interactive investigations.

How do I run SpiderFoot from the command line?

Use spiderfoot -s <target> for basic CLI scanning. Add -m <modules> to select specific modules, -o json/csv/html for output format, and -l to list all available modules. CLI mode is ideal for automation, scheduled scans, and integration into penetration testing pipelines.

Can SpiderFoot detect data breaches?

Yes, SpiderFoot includes HaveIBeenPwned integration to check if email addresses or domains have appeared in known data breaches. This module helps assess exposure risk and identify compromised credentials that may be relevant to security assessments.

How do I speed up SpiderFoot scans?

Select specific modules instead of running all 200+, increase the thread count in settings, and target specific data types. Running all modules against a domain can take hours; targeted scans with 5-10 relevant modules complete in minutes. Use CLI mode for faster execution without the web UI overhead.

Can SpiderFoot scan IP addresses?

Yes, SpiderFoot can scan IP addresses, domains, email addresses, and names. For IP scans, it discovers associated domains, open ports, services, hosting information, and reverse DNS records using OSINT sources. IP scanning is useful for infrastructure investigation and threat intelligence.

How do I export SpiderFoot results?

Export results as JSON, CSV, or HTML through the web UI or CLI with -o json, -o csv, or -o html. JSON format is best for integration with SIEM and threat intelligence platforms. HTML reports are ideal for sharing findings with stakeholders. The web UI also allows downloading individual scan results.

What are SpiderFoot's key dependencies?

SpiderFoot requires Python 3.6+ and optionally API keys for Shodan, Censys, VirusTotal, HaveIBeenPwned, and other data sources for full functionality. The web UI requires a modern browser. Install with pip3 install spiderfoot or via package manager on Kali Linux.

Tags

#osint#reconnaissance#automation#intelligence#attack-surface#threat-intelligence#correlation

Output Explanation

SpiderFoot output aggregates intelligence from 200+ data sources into a unified dashboard. Results include IP addresses, subdomains, email addresses, hosts, networks, SSL certificates, DNS records, and cross-source correlations. The web UI presents findings as interactive visual graphs and searchable tables with source attribution. CLI output can be exported as JSON, CSV, or HTML reports for integration with SIEM platforms and threat intelligence systems.

Ethical Usage Notice

This tool is designed for authorized security testing, educational purposes, and legitimate network administration only. Unauthorized access to computer systems is illegal.