Welcome back to the redesigned osintessentials.com. The layout is intended to make it easier for users to navigate, as well as for me to update - which is a crucial part of what will hopefully keep the site helpful and relevant.
An easy-to-use tool for starting an OSINT task
Is there anything you think we're missing?
Tools & Services - What and why?
SOCIAL
GEO
Google Maps - Maps from Google, including Street View, 3D, Photo Spheres
Google Earth - Browser-based version of Google Earth. Standalone desktop version can be downloaded here
Bing Maps - From Microsoft. Small variations in satellite orbit can mean dramatically different views to Google Maps
Yandex Maps - Particularly useful for Russia and some surrounding countries
OpenStreetMap - Global crowd-sourced maps
Travel With Drone - Shows aerial videos of locations marked on a world map
VIDEO/PHOTO/AUDIO
MW Metadata - Displays detailed metadata on YouTube videos, as well as the channel on which they're posted.*
YouTube GeoFind - Allows searches by location for geotagged YouTube videos.*
InVid - Browser extension that allows an array of analytical functions to be carried out on video and still images.
Watch Frame by Frame - Speed up, slow down or advance YouTube or Vimeo video frame by frame within the browser
Anilyzer - Allows video from YouTube or Vimeo to be played frame by frame or in slow motion
TRANSPORTATION
RadarBox24 - Flight tracker with live maps and search function. Displays flight info by default in map view
FlightAware - Flight tracker with live maps and search function
Freedar - Customisable flight tracker that includes military aircraft. Also has monitoring of air traffic control audio
Airportia - Tracks flights, airports and airlines worldwide
AviationDB - Searchable database of info on aviation. This link goes to the very useful Aircraft Query page
Live ATC - Live air traffic control broadcasts
PlaneSpotters - Details on planes worldwide, with a huge collection of photographs
Pinkfroot - User-submitted photographs of planes. Searchable. Also has a section on ships
Airline livery quiz - For practice - can you identify an airline by its livery?
PEOPLE
WhatsMyName - Searches for usernames across platforms. Very fast - and from the people at OSINT Combine, so no concerns about privacy or security issues.
Instant Username - Searches for usernames across platforms.
Namechk - Searches for usernames across platforms
NameCheckup - Searches for usernames across platforms
WEBSITES
Spyonweb - Finds domains with the same Google Analytics code, AdSense ID, hosting IP etc
DNSlytics - Finds domains with the same Google Analytics code, AdSense ID, hosting IP etc
Whois - Information on registration of domain names. Declining in usefulness due to non-compliance with GDPR
Subdomain Finder - Scans domain and finds subdomains
MISCELLANEOUS
International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia - Military and other uniform badges and insignia from around the world. Also has a discussion forum
Military Factory - Information on military hardware, including weapons and vehicles
Weapons ID Database - Helps in visual identification of weapons. Provided by Small Arms Survey