Secarma recently discovered article about an API tool called “The Beat” from Rutgers University seemed to be one of the more interesting uses of social media information. The Beat links geo information embedded within Instagram images to Google Streetview. This is then made searchable using tags from Instagram. APIs and information gathering was covered in the Social Engineer Podcast 039.
On the surface, it seems to be a fantastic tool. A user can search tags for a concert that they attended and find other people who were also there and take a look at their pictures – as the Social Engineer Podcast doesn’t really focus on “how to find girls for free,” this could be one further use of “The Beat!”
However, as we discussed the security implications of this tool in the offices here at the office, we decided to search for more unusual items. It was when we identified that, searching more generic terms, we uncovered the darker side to the API.
