OSINT, short for Open Source Intelligence, refers to information gathered from legally accessible sources that are available to the public. In simple terms, it is the process of collecting and analysing information that is freely accessible on the internet and other public sources about individuals, organizations or events. This can include data from books, newspapers, public libraries, press releases, and online sources like social media, videos, webinars, public speeches, and conferences.
It's important to note that OSINT is not like other forms of intelligence gathering in a few key ways. Firstly, it relies on legally and publicly available sources, whereas other forms of intelligence gathering can involve confidential or classified information. Secondly, OSINT uses various sources, including social media, news articles, public records, and government reports, whereas other intelligence gathering forms may rely on a specific source type. Finally, OSINT often uses advanced analytical techniques like natural language processing and machine learning to process large amounts of data, whereas other forms may rely more on human analysis and interpretation.
To put it simply, OSINT is a valuable tool for gathering information about individuals or organizations in a legal and ethical manner. With the right techniques and analysis, OSINT can provide valuable insights and intelligence to help inform decision-making and mitigate risks.
Different OSINT Collection Techniques
When it comes to collecting open-source intelligence, there are two main categories to consider: passive collection and active collection.
Passive collection involves consolidating all available data into a single, easily accessible location. This process is typically aided by advanced technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, which help threat intelligence platforms to effectively manage and prioritize the data they collect. These platforms may also employ rules-based criteria to dismiss certain data points that do not meet predefined organizational criteria.
On the other hand, active collection involves using investigative techniques to identify specific information. This approach is commonly used to supplement cyber threat profiles identified by passive data tools or to support a particular investigation. There are several well-known OSINT collection tools that fall into this category, including domain and certificate registration lookups, which can be used to identify the owner of a particular domain, as well as public malware sandboxing, which can be used to scan applications for potentially malicious activity.
It's important to note that while both passive and active collection methods have their unique strengths and limitations, they are both valuable tools that can be used to collect and analyse open-source intelligence in a legal and ethical manner. With the right tools and strategies, organizations
can leverage OSINT collection to stay informed, identify potential threats, and make informed decisions to protect themselves from harm.
What is the benefit of OSINT?
Within cybersecurity, there are two common use cases for OSINT:
1. Measuring the risk to your own organization
2. Understanding the actor, tactics and targets
Using OSINT Trace Labs VM
The Trace Labs team created a specialized OSINT VM specifically to bring together the most effective OSINT tools and customized scripts we saw being used during our Search Party CTF’s. Inspired by the infamous Buscador VM, the Trace Labs OSINT VM was built in a similar way, to enable OSINT investigators participating in the Trace Labs Search Party CTF’s a quick way to get started and have access to the most popular OSINT tools and scripts all neatly packaged under one roof.
