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Initial Activation

Modified on: Tue, 26 Dec, 2023 at 10:16 PM

When opening Maltego for the first time, you will be presented with a window allowing you to choose how you want to use Maltego.


All editions of Maltego run from the same installation, and this initial selection allows you to select which license type you will be using. The version of Maltego selected can be changed at any time.

 

 

CaseFile

CaseFile is the simplest version of Maltego available. You do not need to login or purchase a license key in order to use Maltego CaseFile. No activation will be required after selecting CaseFile.

 

Community Edition

In order to use the Community Edition of Maltego, you will need to sign up for a free Maltego ID account on our website here (or click the Register button in the Maltego Desktop Client).


Once you have registered and activated your account, you can click the Login button in the Maltego CE (Free) section in the Client. Then, either click on the Browser Login button or copy the link into a browser of your choice (on the same system running the Client).


 

In the browser, use the details you registered, to login to your account.

 

 

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is supported. You will need the Authenticator app to scan the QR code and enter the code generated.



Once authentication is complete, close the browser and return to the Maltego Desktop Client.



 

Online activation for Maltego One/Classic/XL

Online Activation

The online activation method is the recommended way to activate your Maltego Client and should be a quick and easy process. Clicking Activate with Key for either Maltego One, Classic or XL will start the online activation wizard.

 

When prompted, enter the 26-digit license key that you purchased.  

 

 

Advanced Option

From version 4.1.15 onward, the default option is User License.


Microsoft Windows Users, please take note:

  1. Machine License Activation requires read and write access to the "C:\ProgramData\Paterva\Maltego" folder.

  2. Both License Activation options require read and write access to the "C:\Users\<user_name>\AppData\Roaming" folder.


User and cache folder location customization:

Please take note that it is possible to specify the User and Cache folder locations by providing startup commands:

  1. --userdir <new_user_foler>

  2. --cachedir <new_cache_dir>


Considerations when using these settings:

  1. By default, the cache folder (--cachedir) is a subfolder of the user folder (--userdir).

  2. The cache folder (--cachedir) requires high-speed disk access; do not place it on a network folder. Hence, if you plan to use a network folder for the user folder (--userdir), you have to set a local disk cache folder (--cachedir).

  3. The use of network folders are not recommended as they will impact your Maltego Client's performance significantly. Windows caches file writes. This results in Maltego exceptions when it attempts to write to files it created but which have not yet persisted to disk storage.

 

After entering your license key, click Next. The Client will check whether the license key entered is valid. Should the license be valid, the product will be activated and the following screen will be displayed:

 

 

Offline Activation

In the case where your Maltego Client is operating in an offline environment, you are able to perform an offline activation.

 

To activate the Client offline click the Activate without Internet button when the Product selection window is displayed. This button can be found in the top right corner of the screen.

 

 

When prompted, enter the 26-digit license key that you purchased. After entering your key and clicking Next you will be presented with a page that provides a License Request blob and a link to the activation website.

 

 

Copy the License Request blob and browse to the link specified (from a machine connected to the Internet if your Maltego Client host is offline). 

 

Copying your License Request blob into the website form and clicking the Generate Key will create a license file (maltego.lic) that will be downloaded by your web browser. You can then return to the activation wizard in the Maltego Client and upload the new license file. 

 

Once uploaded, click Next to check whether the license file is valid. If valid, your Maltego Client will be activated.


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