// THREAT DETECTION AND DATA PRIVACY TERM
OSINT
OSINT, or Open-Source Intelligence, is the practice of collecting and analyzing information from publicly available sources to produce actionable intelligence. These sources can include everything from news articles and social media posts to academic papers and government reports.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is an intelligence discipline involving the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information and data from publicly available sources (PAI) to fulfill specific intelligence requirements for national security, law enforcement, and commercial threat intelligence. Key data domains include social media (SOCMINT), geospatial data (GEOINT), public records, and the deep and dark web, which are processed through the intelligence cycle to provide situational awareness and decision support.
BACKGROUND
The Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge (ATT&CK) is a guideline for classifying and describing cyberattacks and intrusions. It was created by the Mitre Corporation and released in 2013.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- open-source intelligence
- publicly available information
- PAI
- open data analysis
- digital reconnaissance
- media monitoring
USAGE NOTE
OSINT is often the initial and safest phase of an investigation, but its findings must be carefully vetted for accuracy and disinformation.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to OSINT.
Developer of the Maltego software platform, a graphical link analysis tool used for open-source intelligence and forensics. It allows users to visualize and analyze relationships between various pieces of information gathered from open sources.
A threat intelligence company that uses machine learning and natural language processing to collect and analyze vast amounts of data from the open web, dark web, and technical sources to provide real-time threat intelligence.
A search engine for Internet-connected devices. Cybersecurity professionals use it for OSINT to discover which of their devices are connected to the internet, where they are located, and who is using them, identifying potential vulnerabilities.
An intelligence company specializing in collecting data from illicit online communities on the deep and dark web. Their technology provides organizations with intelligence to detect threats, fraud, and data breaches.
An independent investigative collective of researchers and citizen journalists specializing in fact-checking and open-source intelligence. They develop and publicize OSINT techniques and methodologies for investigative journalism and accountability.
A blockchain analysis company that provides data and software to government agencies, exchanges, and financial institutions. Their technology traces cryptocurrency transactions, a specialized form of OSINT for combating cybercrime.
Develops an OSINT solution that collects and analyzes masses of data from the surface, deep, and dark web. The platform is used by defense, national security, and law enforcement agencies to identify threats and gain insights.
A cybersecurity company that analyzes internet-wide scan and attack traffic. Their technology helps security teams distinguish harmless internet noise from targeted attacks, reducing false positives and focusing on genuine threats.