Introduction to OSINT
Open source intelligence fundamentals for security.
What is OSINT?
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is intelligence gathered from publicly available sources. In cybersecurity, it's used to investigate threats, identify vulnerabilities, and research attackers.
Key Sources
- Domain registrations – WHOIS records
- DNS data – Passive DNS, zone files
- Web archives – Historical site snapshots
- Social media – Profiles and posts
- Certificate logs – CT transparency
- Search engines – Indexed content
Best Practices
- Document your sources and methodology
- Verify information across multiple sources
- Maintain operational security
- Stay within legal boundaries