What is PhoneInfoga? How to extract phone number information using PhoneInfoga?

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PhoneInfoga is an open-source intelligence (OSINT) tool designed for gathering information about phone numbers. It uses various public sources to collect details such as the carrier, location, and potential associated social media accounts, among other data. It’s particularly useful for cybersecurity professionals, investigators, or anyone looking to gather information related to phone numbers.

Features of PhoneInfoga:

  • Carrier Identification: It can determine the carrier associated with a phone number.
  • Geolocation: Extracts possible location information, such as country or city, associated with the number.
  • Social Media Profiles: It may find profiles linked to a phone number on various social platforms.
  • WHOIS Data: It can perform WHOIS lookups to gather more details.
  • Number Validation: It checks if a phone number is valid and formatted correctly.

Steps to Extract Phone Number Information Using PhoneInfoga:

1. Install PhoneInfoga:

PhoneInfoga is available in multiple formats (Python, Docker, etc.), but the Python version is one of the most common. Here’s how to set it up.

  • Install via GitHub (Python version):
    • First, ensure you have Python and Git installed on your system.
    • Clone the repository:
      bash
      git clone https://github.com/PhoneInfoga/PhoneInfoga.git
      cd PhoneInfoga
    • Install dependencies:
      bash
      pip install -r requirements.txt
       

2. Basic Usage (Command Line):

After installation, you can use PhoneInfoga to gather phone number information.

  • To run a basic phone number lookup, use the following command:
    bash
    python3 phoneinfoga.py -n "+1234567890"

    Replace +1234567890 with the phone number you wish to investigate. The tool will fetch available information and display it in your terminal.

3. Advanced Options:

  • Number Format: You must provide the phone number in international format, i.e., including the country code (e.g., +1 for the United States, +44 for the UK, etc.).

  • Using API Services: PhoneInfoga uses multiple third-party services to retrieve data. Some features may require an API key from specific services, such as NumVerify or Twilio. You can specify your own API keys for enhanced lookup:

    bash
     
    python3 phoneinfoga.py -n "+1234567890" -k <your_api_key>

  • Scanning Multiple Numbers: You can also scan multiple numbers from a file:

    bash
    python3 phoneinfoga.py -f numbers.txt

    Where numbers.txt is a text file with phone numbers, one per line.

  • Verbose Mode: To see more detailed output, you can use the -v flag:

    bash
    python3 phoneinfoga.py -n "+1234567890" -v

  • Search by Name: If you’re unsure of the phone number but know the name of the person or organization, you can search for a number linked to that name (depending on available data):

    bash
    python3 phoneinfoga.py -s "John Doe"

4. Output Information:

The tool will display several types of information, such as:

  • Carrier information (mobile or landline, service provider)
  • Location of the number (country, region)
  • Possible social media accounts linked to the number
  • Number validation results
  • WHOIS data

5. Web Interface:

PhoneInfoga also has a web interface for easier interaction, which you can set up by following the instructions in the documentation. After setting up, you can run a local server and use a browser to query phone numbers instead of using the command line.

Important Notes:

  • Legality: Always ensure you’re using PhoneInfoga in a legal and ethical manner. Depending on your jurisdiction, some activities (like gathering data without consent) may be illegal.
  • Accuracy: The tool relies on public databases, so the information it provides may not always be 100% accurate or up-to-date.
  • Ethical Considerations: Using OSINT tools can sometimes be considered invasive. Make sure you’re not violating privacy or conducting activities that could be harmful or malicious.

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