Legal & Ethical Use

This repository · its tools, links, documentation, and the Aramon OSINT Guide (opens in a new tab) · is published by Aramon Institute of IT strictly for lawful, ethical purposes.

Intended Use#

This resource is intended for:

• Education · learning how OSINT techniques and tools work.
• Cybersecurity research · attack surface discovery, threat intelligence, and defensive security work.
• Journalism and fact-checking · verifying claims using public information.
• Authorized investigations · engagements with clear, documented authorization (e.g., a signed pentest/red-team scope, an employer-sanctioned fraud investigation).
• CTF and lab environments · practicing techniques against intentionally vulnerable or synthetic targets.

Your Responsibilities#

Anyone using this repository is responsible for complying with:

• Applicable laws in their jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of any target (data protection, computer-misuse, surveillance, and privacy laws vary widely and can carry criminal liability).
• Platform Terms of Service for every site, API, or tool used · many prohibit scraping, bulk automated queries, or misuse of public profile data.
• Privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR and equivalents), particularly when handling data about identifiable individuals.
• Authorization requirements · written, scoped permission before investigating an organization's or individual's assets, unless the target is intentionally public/consenting (e.g., a CTF).

What This Repository Is Not For#

The tools and techniques referenced here must not be used to:

• Harass, stalk, intimidate, or dox any individual.
• Target private individuals without a lawful basis and legitimate purpose.
• Facilitate credential theft, account takeover, or unauthorized access to systems or accounts.
• Circumvent security controls without authorization.
• Support any activity prohibited by law in your jurisdiction or the target's.

Aramon Institute of IT does not endorse, support, or take responsibility for misuse of any tool, technique, or link referenced in this repository.

A Note on Dark Web / Onion Research#

Onion-network research resources referenced in tools/dark-web (opens in a new tab) are limited to legitimate search/research infrastructure (e.g., the Tor Project itself and public onion search engines). This repository deliberately excludes marketplaces, stolen-data sources, credential dumps, and other illegal services. Accessing illegal content or services is unlawful regardless of the network used to reach it.

Reporting Concerns#

If you believe content in this repository facilitates misuse, or a linked tool has become harmful, unsafe, or has changed its purpose, please open an issue · see CONTRIBUTING.md (opens in a new tab) · or follow the responsible disclosure process in SECURITY.md (opens in a new tab) for sensitive reports.

By using this repository, you agree to use its contents lawfully, ethically, and only within the scope of authorization you actually hold.