Most OSINT discussions focus on what various OSINT Tools does, but let’s break down how they actually works or how you can develop your own tool using these open source OSINT Tools.

There are various tools like Holehe, Gitfive, Ghunt, Ignorent, Linkook etc, but my job as a CTO is not only understanding what a tool does but how it operates under the hood.

In order to give you all a better understanding for this, In today’s Discussion let’s start with a cool open-source OSINT tool “Ignorent” - designed to check whether a phone number is linked to various online platforms.

In this blog, we’ll dive into how IGNORENT operates, the techniques it employs, and how you can modify its results for targeted analysis.

🛠️ The Core Principle: API-Based Phone Enumeration

IGNORENT is based on a simple but powerful concept: leveraging authentication and account recovery endpoints to determine if a phone number is registered on a given platform. Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Querying Authentication & Account Recovery APIs

Many online services allow users to sign in or recover accounts using phone numbers. IGNORENT systematically queries these authentication endpoints to check if the number exists in their database.

2️⃣ Analyzing Response Codes & Error Messages

Every website responds differently when a valid or invalid phone number is submitted. For example:

• A valid number might trigger a "Verification code sent to your phone" response.

• An invalid number might return "This number is not linked to an account" or "Invalid phone number format".

IGNORENT captures these response patterns and classifies them to determine whether a phone number is associated with a platform.

3️⃣ Fingerprinting Online Services

IGNORENT stores these response patterns in a predefined database. When it checks a phone number, it simply compares the responses to its cheat sheet and figures out which services the number is linked to. This process helps it work efficiently across multiple platforms without actually logging in.

4️⃣ Bypassing Rate Limits & Bot Protection

Since many services deploy CAPTCHAs and rate-limiting mechanisms to block automated queries, IGNORENT employs:

• Sends requests at random time intervals to look like a human instead of a bot.

• Changes browser fingerprints (User-Agent rotation) so websites don’t detect automated scanning.

• Slows down requests smartly to avoid being blocked by security systems.

🔄 How IGNORENT Works Step by Step

1️⃣ User inputs a phone number.

2️⃣ IGNORENT loads a list of predefined platforms to check.

3️⃣ The tool sends API requests to login or account recovery pages.

4️⃣ IGNORENT analyzes the response codes and error messages.

5️⃣ It compares results with known patterns to determine phone number existence.

6️⃣ The tool outputs a list of platforms linked to the phone number.

🔍 Limitations & Challenges

While powerful, IGNORENT has some limitations:

• Evolving Security Measures – Websites update their security frequently, which may break detection patterns.

• Rate Limiting & CAPTCHAs – Some services block requests from automated tools.

• Legal & Ethical Boundaries – Misuse of the tool may violate terms of service for different platforms.

🎯 How to Customize IGNORENT Results for Targeted Analysis

Want to focus on specific platforms or refine output? You can:

✅ Modify the list of queried platforms to check only specific sites.

✅ Customize regex patterns to extract only certain types of responses.

✅ Export results in JSON, CSV, or other formats for structured analysis.

✅ Use automation scripts to filter, sort, and prioritize relevant findings.

💡 Extending IGNORENT’s Capabilities

Since IGNORENT is open-source, you can improve it by:

🚀 Adding support for more platforms by modifying its API query list.

🚀 Integrating CAPTCHA solvers to bypass verification blocks.

🚀 Building a GUI version for easier use by non-technical users.

Conclusion

Understanding how OSINT tools work gives you an edge. IGNORENT uses API-based phone lookup by analyzing how different platforms respond when a number is entered. It detects patterns across services like WhatsApp, Telegram, and LinkedIn. While powerful, it should always be used ethically and within legal limits.