Maltego – Data Visualization Tool

Maltego is an Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and graphical link analysis tool used for gathering and visualizing relationships between different data points. It is widely used in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and intelligence gathering to uncover connections between domains, IP addresses, people, organizations, social media accounts, and more.

Maltego Features

Some of the tool features are as follows:

• Performs OSINT-based data gathering and correlation.
• Maps relationships between entities like people, organizations, and infrastructure.
• Supports integration with multiple data sources and APIs.
• Provides a graphical interface for easy visualization.
• Useful for ethical hacking, digital forensics, and threat intelligence.

Maltego Editions

Some of the different editions of the tool are as follows:

• Maltego One
• Maltego XL
• Maltego Classic
• Maltego CE
• Maltego CaseFile

Install Maltego

Maltego is available in Kali Linux by default. However, if it is not installed, use the following command:

$ sudo apt-get install maltego

Launch Maltego

To start Maltego, run the following command in the terminal:

$ maltego

This command opens the Maltego GUI, where users can perform intelligence gathering tasks.

 

Creating a New Investigation

After launching Maltego, follow these steps to start a new investigation:

• Click on “New Graph” in the main interface.
• Select an entity type, such as a domain name, person, or organization.
• Enter the entity details and run transformations to gather related information.
• Analyze the relationships visually using the graph representation.

Performing Domain Investigation

To investigate a domain using Maltego:

• Add a Domain Entity to the graph (e.g., “example.com”).
• Right-click on the entity and select transformations like:
  • To DNS Name – Finds related DNS records.
  • To IP Address – Resolves domain to IP.
  • To Email Addresses – Finds associated email addresses.
• Analyze the results to uncover connections.

Using Maltego for Social Media Investigation

Maltego allows tracking social media accounts and interactions:

• Add a Person or Social Media Profile entity.
• Run transformations to find associated email addresses, phone numbers, or related accounts.
• Visualize how different profiles are linked together.

Integrating Third-Party Data Sources

Maltego supports third-party integrations for enhanced intelligence gathering:

• Access the Transform Hub within Maltego.
• Install APIs like Shodan, VirusTotal, and Have I Been Pwned.
• Use these sources to gather cybersecurity and threat intelligence data.

Maltego is a powerful OSINT tool for gathering and visualizing intelligence on networks, domains, people, and social media entities. It is widely used by cybersecurity professionals, forensic analysts, and investigators to uncover hidden connections and analyze digital footprints.