Historical Context: OSINT is not a modern concept; it has been used historically, including during WWII.
Key Figure: Lt. Gen. Samuel B. Wilson claimed in the 70s that 90% of intelligence data was gathered from open sources.
Definition of Open Source Intelligence
What is OSINT?: The process of gathering publicly available information about individuals, companies, or organizations.
Sources of OSINT: Social media platforms, websites, public records, news articles.
Example Scenario
If a person's friend list is hidden on social media, intelligence can still be gathered through public posts, likes, and comments.
Techniques of OSINT
Google Dorking (Google Hacking)
Definition: Using special search operators in Google to find specific information that isn't easily accessible.
Example: To search only within a specific site, use site:amazon.com to see results from Amazon only.
File Type Search: Use filetype: operator to find documents (PDF, Excel, Word) associated with a name. Example: "John Doe" filetype:pdf
Refining Searches: Combine search operators to target particular websites.
Facial Recognition and Reverse Image Search
Tool: Demise - An AI tool for finding individuals based on facial features across the internet.
Reverse Image Search: Use Google Images or other tools to search by image for more details about a photo's context.
Email and Social Media Searches
Reverse Email Search: Use tools like FBOS to find social media accounts linked to an email address.
Social Media Insights: Different platforms can reveal hobbies and interests based on the individual's activity (e.g., GitHub for programmers, deviantART for artists).
Comprehensive Searches: Use sites like SocialSearcher.com to search for a full name across multiple social media platforms at once.
Additional Resources
CheckUsernames.com: Find usernames across 100+ social media platforms.
That's That: Tool for finding information on email addresses and phone numbers.
Intel Techniques by Michael Basil: A resource for exploring tools for social media investigations.
Conclusion
OSINT is a vast field with numerous tools and techniques. Encouragement to explore the OSINT framework and resources available.
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