For many analysts, the OSINT process starts with a request for information (RFI), which results in analysts immediately collecting as much information as possible—often beginning with a photo to jump-start the intelligence collection process.
A geolocation refers to the identification of an electronic device’s geographical location using certain technologies, like GPS. Once a device has been located, so can the individual who owns that device, as people usually keep their electronics in close proximity. Law enforcement investigators can use these geolocations to collect open...
The social media company, Facebook, has never allowed users below the age of 13 to make accounts on its platform. However, preventing the creation of underage accounts hasn’t always been a successful effort. As Facebook strives to prevent children from utilizing their platforms, new regulations will make it more difficult to engage on the platform without proper age verification. But how will Facebook manage to keep underage users off the platform? The social media company promises to leverage numerous approaches, including new advancements in artificial...
Though the open web is typically just that—wide open for internet users to access—modern websites and popular social media platforms now require users to create accounts in order to enter. With this variation in barriers to data, online users have to adjust their information-collection methods in web spaces that are...
With just a name and an email address, an open source analyst can likely discover the hometown, employer, and alma mater of most individuals with a smartphone.
When you are trying to operate online, it may seem obvious that you need an alias; the question is, what kind? In this blog, I am going to share with you my framework for the four forms of online identity.
Open Source Intelligence, or OSINT, is intelligence developed from sources that are free, public, and legal to access. In the linked video, I discuss the history of OSINT, how OSINT is used and collected, and some examples of how OSINT has been used to great effect.
