sherlock

Search a username across 400+ social networks to identify existing accounts.

Updated Apr 10, 2026

Search Tags:#security #reconnaissance #social-media #osint #sherlock #username

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/overviewlabs/WHOX --skill sherlock-overviewlabs

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: sherlock
Source: https://github.com/overviewlabs/WHOX/tree/main/optional-skills/security/sherlock
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/overviewlabs/WHOX --skill sherlock-overviewlabs

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

OSINT username search across 400+ social networks to identify and catalog accounts associated with a given username, enabling rapid footprint assessment.

Core Features & Use Cases

Search a username across hundreds of social platforms to find existing accounts and assess presence.
Validate username availability and map online personas for reconnaissance or brand monitoring.
Use Case: quickly verify if a target username appears on major networks to inform outreach or risk assessment.

Quick Start

Install Sherlock Project and run sherlock with the target username to discover existing accounts across networks.

Frequently Asked Questions about sherlock

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I find social media accounts associated with a specific username across multiple platforms?▼

OSINT username discovery tools like Sherlock search a given username across 400+ social networks to identify existing accounts. This allows rapid footprint assessment by determining platform presence and mapping online personas for reconnaissance or brand monitoring.

What is the best way to check if a username is available or already taken on hundreds of social networks?▼

Checking username availability across 400+ social networks is done by running a reconnaissance search with Sherlock. It validates whether a target username appears on major platforms, enabling quick verification to inform outreach or risk assessment.

Do I need to install any dependencies to search for usernames across social networks?▼

Yes, you need to install the Sherlock CLI to search usernames across social networks. Install it using pipx install sherlock-project or pip install sherlock-project, and ensure you have network access; Docker usage is also available via sherlock/sherlock.

Can I use username reconnaissance for brand monitoring and security risk assessment?▼

Username reconnaissance supports brand monitoring and security risk assessment by mapping online personas across 400+ social platforms. It identifies and catalogs accounts associated with a given username, allowing quick verification of target presence to inform risk evaluation.

Does Sherlock work with Docker for searching social media account footprints?▼

Yes, Sherlock supports Docker for searching social media account footprints via the sherlock/sherlock image. This allows you to discover existing accounts across hundreds of networks without a local pip installation, provided you have network access.

Why does my OSINT username search require network access to map online personas?▼

OSINT username search requires network access to query 400+ social network sites and determine username presence. Without connectivity, the reconnaissance tool cannot validate account availability or map online personas across external platforms.