Open source intelligence, or OSINT, is not a new concept, nor the latest security trend! It was widely utilized in World War 2, yes, you read that right! During those times, intelligence communities had highly trained agents who tracked open source information like radio broadcasts, markets, and newspaper sources. This ensured fluctuations and threats were detected on time to save lives. Remember, Benedict Cumberbatch’s The Imitation Game?
In 2026, OSINT is used by several companies to monitor cybersecurity risks and detect vulnerabilities in their network system. On the contrary, cybercriminals also use this technology to plan and conduct cyberattacks like phishing, social engineering, etc. Other than these applications, open source intelligence is also used in sectors such as law enforcement, journalism, academic research, and others, to gather information from publicly available sources.
In this blog, I will give you a beginner-friendly idea of what is OSINT, how it works, the tools and techniques involved, some commonly used tools, and the latest applications across industries.
What is OSINT or Open Source Intelligence?
OSINT, or open source intelligence, is a highly potent tool that both organizations and individuals can use to collect, analyze, and circulate information from sources accessible to the public. These sources are mostly social media posts, news, online communities, government reports, and statistics.
In the case of traditional information collection, the sources are mainly classified. But OSINT utilizes publicly available sources to collect and analyze information that is widely available.
Open Source Intelligence Benefits Include
- Can detect potential threats to people, organizations, and even nations (widely used in national security).
- Used to conduct investigations in cases of illegal activities.
- By using OSINT information, organizations, individuals, etc., can analyze competitors, business partners, and other bodies.
How Does Open Source Intelligence Work?
Previously, information gathering was not a job anyone could do, as it needed access to classified files, records, documents, etc. Today, the story has changed; with the number of publicly available data sources, anyone with beginner’s knowledge can become an information gatherer.
Some OSINT Sources For Data Collection
- Search engines, like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.
- Offline and online media, like newspapers, news websites, and magazines.
- Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and online forums.
- Dark web.
- Social media accounts, like X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.
- Public and government records.
- Technical data, like webpage metadata, APIs, etc.
- Academic information, like research papers, journals, etc.
Though I have said that anyone with a few skills can get into open source intelligence gathering, we must keep a few things in mind.
- You must have a clear goal, like you need to know what information you want and what sources you must look at to find it.
- Once you gather the information, clear out all unnecessary or repeated data.
- After that, analyze the filtered information and generate an actionable intelligence report.
Related: Artificial Intelligence Vs Human Intelligence: Who’s the Best?
Open Source Intelligence Framework
You can access open source intelligence tools and resources needed to conduct investigations on a centralized website called the OSINT Framework. This website is easily accessible to cybersecurity professionals, researchers, and others looking for the appropriate resources and tools for investigations.
Different Categories of the OSINT Framework Website
- People search
- Search engines
- Social media
- Company search
- Domain search
- Email search
- Contact details search
And so much more.
OSINT Framework Benefits
- Get access to an extensive list of tools and resources required for OSINT investigations. These tools and resources are regularly updated, too.
- The website has a user-friendly interface.
- If you do not have much money to spare on your investigation, OSINT Framework is a perfect choice, as most of the tools and resources are free.
- You can also find a link to the OSINT investigators community on the website. By joining this community, you can get access to other investigators, their experiences, share tips and tricks of the trade, and so much more.
How to Gather Intelligence from Public Sources?
Gathering OSINT from sources requires a few distinctive steps. Please take a look at the table to understand the steps simply:
| Step Number | Key Steps | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Know the objectives | Understand your goal clearly, i.e., what do you want to find out? A person’s digital footprint, detecting network vulnerabilities, etc. |
| 2. | Data source identification | Where do you want to get data from? Search engines, social media, research websites, government databases, dark web, etc. |
| 3. | Data collection | Two types: Passive (web scraping tools, search engine operators, APIs), Active (Malware sandboxing, domain lookups) |
| 4. | Data processing & analyzing | Noise filtration, data categorization.Using tools for relationship mapping, patterns, and text. |
| 5. | Data validation & corroboration | Check findings with several trusted sources, and check metadata for digital assets. |
| 6. | Reporting | Collect all your findings, document them, and present them in the right format. |
| 7. | Continuous monitoring | Set alerts for any new information findings. |
OSINT Tools & Technology
OSINT methods & concepts are highly vital for organizations and individuals today. Especially in sectors like law enforcement, private investigations, government departments, journalism, and even in the business world.
Examples of OSINT Tools that are Widely Used
- Search Engines: Like Google, Bing, etc., can be used to search for any particular information you are looking for.
- Social Media Monitoring Tools: SproutSocial and Hootsuite can be used to collect information from social media channels.
- Web Scraping Tools: Tools like Scrapy can be used to get data from various websites.
- OSINT Framework: A one-stop directory where you can access data gathering and discovery tools for multiple sources or platforms.
- Recon-ng: You can use this open-source framework for reconnaissance and to gather information.
- Maltego: It is a data visualization and mining tool that you can use to gather and analyze information on individuals, networks, and businesses.
- Data Analysis Tools: OSINT professionals use tools like Tableau, R, and Excel to analyze data and detect patterns.
- Shodan: A kind of search engine where you can find information about Internet-connected devices and collect information from them.
- Virtual Private Networks or VPNs: People use VPNs to protect their online identities and prevent the tracking of their digital movements.
- Tor: A completely free software that you can use to go about the Internet anonymously.
I’ve given you a basic idea of all the tools used for open source intelligence. If you want detailed information, please read our blog on the top open-source data analytics tools for smarter insights.
Some Common OSINT Techniques
- Internet Research
- Web Scraping
- Social Media Monitoring
- Data Analysis
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Latest OSINT Use Cases With Examples
OSINT in Law Enforcement
One of the safest countries in the world, Switzerland, frequently uses OSINT methods and concepts to conduct digitally superior investigations. Swiss investigators utilize OSINT techniques to solve high-profile investigations, such as those involving Thomas Nick. These cases also include illegal markets, trafficking, violent and abusive crimes, and others. Today, many nations are following Switzerland’s footsteps by incorporating OSINT into law enforcement. The beautiful country has been recognized for its investigative innovation and is an active participant in the OSINT Center for Excellence.
Tackling Cybercrimes
The initial months of 2025 saw a huge rise in phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) attacks. It targeted many renowned organizations and individuals worldwide, with over 1 million attacks recorded in January and February alone!
A Chinese Telegram group going by the name of ‘Darcula’ carries out innovative phishing scams across nations. They use the’no face’ rule, with only mysterious usernames and anonymous profile photos.
They send over cleverly planned SMS, texts, iMessages, WhatsApp messages, etc., laced with fraudulent links. With these, Darcula extracts bank details, money, passwords, and personal details from people and organizations to fund their luxurious lifestyles.
One day, IT security expert Erlend L, and his American colleague, Harrison S, now running their cybersecurity firm in Oslo, Mnemonic, came across Darcula’s cataclysmic intentions. Together, they developed a software that opened doors to Darcula’s world. With the help of Norway-based broadcaster NRK (who once tracked a Darcula member), the cybersecurity duo exposed all the doings of China’s most innovative cybercriminal group.
Some Other Open Source Intelligence Use Cases Are:
- Detecting cryptocurrency fraud.
- Mapping out crisis zones for disaster management.
- Fighting misinformation and fake news.
- Reputation management in corporates.
- Risk management in the supply chain.
And many, many others.
OSINT: Things To Remember
By now, I’m sure you can understand the importance of open source intelligence applications in the real world. It’s not just another technology; it makes our jobs easier by giving us access to the right information.
But we must also consider using OSINT tools and techniques both ethically and responsibly. Always verify the authenticity of the gathered information. With innovative technologies like these, potential biases are more common than you think. OSINT researchers must ensure that they do not arrive at the wrong conclusions based on inaccurate or biased information.
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