Operationalising OSINT: Turning Intelligence into Action

by Daniel Collyer

March 14, 2025

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is a powerful asset in cybersecurity, providing insights into emerging threats, leaked credentials, and malicious activity across the Surface, Deep, and Dark Web. However, many organisations struggle to operationalise OSINT effectively—collecting vast amounts of data but failing to translate it into meaningful action.

Without a clear strategy, OSINT risks becoming an overwhelming information stream rather than a practical tool for threat intelligence and response. To maximise its value, security teams must structure their OSINT collection, verify sources, and integrate findings into their wider cybersecurity framework.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to transform raw OSINT into actionable intelligence, covering key steps such as defining intelligence requirements, identifying reliable sources, validating data, and responding to threats. By adopting a structured approach and leveraging automation tools like SOS Intelligence, businesses can enhance their cyber defences and stay ahead of potential attacks.

The Intelligence Cycle: Transforming OSINT into Actionable Intelligence

To effectively operationalise OSINT, organisations must follow a structured approach to intelligence gathering, analysis, and dissemination. This structured methodology is known as the intelligence cycle, which consists of five key stages:

Direction – Defining intelligence requirements based on security needs.
Collection – Gathering relevant OSINT from multiple sources.
Processing – Organising, filtering, and structuring raw data.
Analysis – Interpreting data to produce actionable intelligence.
Dissemination – Delivering intelligence to stakeholders in a usable format.

Understanding these stages helps security teams ensure that OSINT is not just collected, but effectively utilised in cybersecurity decision-making.

What is Information vs. Intelligence?

One of the biggest misconceptions about OSINT is that all collected data is immediately valuable. However, there is a crucial difference between information and intelligence:

Information: Raw data collected from public sources (e.g., leaked credentials, malware hashes, threat actor forum posts). By itself, this data lacks context and reliability.
Intelligence: Processed and analysed information that provides actionable insights (e.g., identifying a ransomware gang’s tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) based on patterns in stolen data).

To bridge the gap between information and intelligence, organisations must follow a rigorous intelligence process.

Breaking Down the Intelligence Cycle

1. Direction: Defining Intelligence Requirements

Before OSINT collection begins, organisations must determine what intelligence they need. This step involves:

Identifying key risks: Credential leaks, fraud attempts, insider threats, ransomware activity.
Aligning intelligence efforts with business needs: Which threats pose the greatest risk to our organisation? What are our critical assets?
Establishing intelligence priorities: Focusing on threats that directly impact security operations.

Example: A financial institution may prioritise OSINT collection on dark web forums where banking trojans and phishing kits are shared.

2. Collection: Gathering OSINT from Multiple Sources

Collection involves retrieving data from publicly available, deep web, and dark web sources. This can include:

Surface Web: Public databases, news sites, social media, and forums.
Deep Web: Subscription-based services, closed forums, restricted-access platforms.
Dark Web: Criminal marketplaces, hacking forums, ransomware leak sites, stealer logs.
Technical OSINT: Malware indicators, leaked credentials, threat intelligence feeds.

Automated tools like SOS Intelligence can streamline OSINT collection, enabling real-time threat monitoring.

3. Processing: Structuring and Filtering Data

Once data is collected, it must be cleaned, categorised, and structured to remove irrelevant information and identify meaningful patterns. Processing methods include:

Parsing large datasets to extract key indicators (e.g., IP addresses, domain names, email addresses).
Cross-referencing leaks with known threat intelligence feeds.
Using machine learning to classify phishing campaigns, ransomware tactics, and fraud patterns.

Example: Instead of manually reviewing thousands of leaked credentials, an automated system can compare them to internal employee accounts and flag potential exposures.

4. Analysis: Producing Actionable Intelligence

This is where raw OSINT is transformed into intelligence. Analysts examine the data to:

Identify emerging threats (e.g., a new ransomware gang targeting specific industries).
Assess credibility (e.g., verifying if a dark web database leak is legitimate).
Determine impact (e.g., assessing the risk of a phishing kit targeting a company’s domain).

Example: A security team monitoring a dark web forum might detect threat actors discussing exploits for a recently disclosed vulnerability, allowing them to preemptively patch affected systems.

5. Dissemination: Delivering Intelligence to Key Stakeholders

Intelligence is only useful if it reaches the right people in the right format. Different stakeholders require different intelligence products, including:

Strategic Intelligence (for executives & CISOs): High-level reports on cybercrime trends, attack motivations, and geopolitical risks.
Operational Intelligence (for SOCs & threat analysts): Indicators of compromise (IoCs), malware signatures, and active threats.
Tactical Intelligence (for security engineers): TTPs of adversaries, detailed technical analysis, and defensive measures.

Example: After detecting an impending ransomware campaign, intelligence teams may send a threat bulletin to CISOs, detailed IoCs to SOC teams, and patching recommendations to IT administrators.

Dissemination doesn’t always require a complex report or a polished intelligence briefing—an intelligence product can be as simple as an email confirming or disproving a security concern, backed by reliable sources. In many cases, speed is more important than presentation; a short, well-referenced message to a security team can provide critical insights faster than a detailed report. Similarly, a single-slide deck summarising key OSINT findings or a quick Slack message with verified indicators of compromise (IoCs) can be just as valuable as a full intelligence dossier. The key is to ensure that the right information reaches the right people in a format that supports quick decision-making and response.

Defining OSINT in CTI

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) refers to the collection, analysis, and interpretation of publicly available information to identify risks, emerging threats, and potential cyberattacks. Within Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), OSINT serves as a critical tool, helping security teams detect indicators of compromise (IOCs), monitor threat actor activity, and mitigate cyber risks before they escalate.

Unlike classified intelligence or internal telemetry from security tools, OSINT draws from external sources that are freely accessible or require minimal authentication. This allows organisations to gain a broader view of their threat landscape, including potential data leaks, phishing campaigns, and adversarial planning occurring in criminal forums.

By leveraging OSINT, organisations can move from a reactive security approach—responding only after an incident occurs—to a proactive one, where threats are identified and mitigated before they cause harm. However, the real challenge lies in filtering out irrelevant data and transforming raw OSINT into meaningful intelligence that informs decision-making.

Key Sources of OSINT

OSINT can be gathered from a vast array of sources, but in cybersecurity, these are typically categorised into three main areas:

1. Surface Web

The Surface Web consists of publicly accessible online content that does not require special permissions or anonymity tools to access. Key sources include:

Social Media – Threat actors often discuss hacking methods, share leaked credentials, or advertise illicit services on platforms like Twitter, Telegram, and Discord.
Company Websites & Job Listings – Publicly available employee details, technology stacks, and even misconfigured web servers can expose an organisation to risk.
News & Security Blogs – Reports on data breaches, ransomware attacks, and emerging vulnerabilities provide valuable intelligence on ongoing cyber threats.
Paste Sites & Code Repositories – Platforms like Pastebin and GitHub can be used to share stolen data, leaked API keys, or exposed credentials.

2. Deep Web

The Deep Web refers to content that is not indexed by standard search engines but is still accessible with proper credentials. Important OSINT sources here include:

Subscription-Based Threat Intelligence Feeds – Industry reports and commercial CTI feeds provide detailed insights into threat actors and attack trends.
Restricted-Access Forums – Cybercriminals and hacking communities operate in invite-only forums where malware is traded, vulnerabilities are discussed, and attack methods are refined.
Breach Notification Services – Platforms like Have I Been Pwned or commercial alternatives notify organisations of exposed credentials or sensitive data leaks.

3. Dark Web

The Dark Web consists of anonymised networks, primarily accessed via Tor, I2P, or other privacy-preserving technologies, where cybercriminals operate under pseudonyms. Key OSINT sources here include:

Criminal Marketplaces – Sites where stolen credentials, malware, ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), and hacking tools are bought and sold.
Hacking Forums & Telegram Channels – Underground communities where cybercriminals share tactics, discuss vulnerabilities, and coordinate attacks.
Stealer Logs & Leaked Databases – Credentials harvested from infostealers (such as RedLine or Raccoon) often appear in logs before being used for account takeovers.

The Importance of OSINT in Cybersecurity

OSINT is particularly valuable for:

Early Threat Detection – Identifying phishing domains, leaked credentials, or chatter about an organisation on cybercriminal forums before an attack takes place.

Attack Surface Management – Understanding what an attacker can see about your organisation, from exposed assets to employee data, allowing for proactive risk reduction.

Incident Response & Attribution – OSINT can help trace an attack’s origins, uncover associated threat actors, and provide indicators of compromise (IOCs) for defence strategies.

However, the sheer volume of OSINT data—combined with the difficulty of verifying its accuracy—poses a challenge for security teams.

How to Structure an OSINT Collection Plan

A well-structured OSINT collection plan is essential for transforming scattered pieces of information into actionable intelligence. Without a clear strategy, organisations risk gathering vast amounts of raw data without meaningful insights or direction. A systematic approach ensures that OSINT efforts align with an organisation’s security priorities and can be effectively used to mitigate threats.

An effective OSINT collection plan involves five key steps:

Step 1: Define Intelligence Requirements

Before collecting any OSINT, it’s crucial to determine what intelligence your organisation actually needs. This involves asking:

What threats matter most to our business? – Are you concerned about credential leaks, phishing campaigns, ransomware threats, insider threats, or data exfiltration?
What assets need protecting? – This could include sensitive customer data, employee credentials, proprietary technology, or intellectual property.
Who are the likely threat actors? – Understanding whether you are at risk from nation-state actors, cybercriminal gangs, or hacktivist groups helps prioritise intelligence collection.

Once intelligence requirements are defined, they should be documented as part of an Intelligence Collection Plan (ICP), ensuring all OSINT activities are targeted and relevant.

Step 2: Identify Reliable OSINT Sources

Not all OSINT sources are equally valuable, and using unverified or low-quality sources can lead to false positives and wasted resources. Identifying trusted and relevant OSINT sources is crucial.

Key OSINT sources for cybersecurity include:

Dark Web & Criminal Marketplaces – Where stolen credentials, payment data, and hacking tools are traded.
Threat Actor Forums & Telegram Channels – Used for planning attacks, recruiting insiders, and sharing breach information.
Phishing Intelligence Feeds – Monitoring domains impersonating your organisation can help detect phishing attacks before they spread.
Leaked Databases & Stealer Logs – If employee or customer credentials are compromised, they may appear in breach dumps or logs from infostealer malware.
Surface Web & Social Media – Cybercriminals often use social media to promote attacks or expose sensitive data inadvertently.

The Importance of Verification

Intelligence is only useful if it is accurate. Before acting on OSINT, it’s important to:

Cross-check information across multiple sources to ensure reliability.
Verify the credibility of the source—for example, distinguishing between a legitimate data breach and a false claim made by a threat actor.
Use automation tools (such as SOS Intelligence) to filter out noise and prioritise high-risk intelligence.

Step 3: Collect and Process the Data

Once the right sources are identified, the next step is collecting and structuring the data for analysis. Effective OSINT collection should focus on:

Automating Data Collection – Given the vast amount of OSINT available, manual collection is inefficient. Using tools like SOS Intelligence allows for continuous monitoring of the Dark Web, phishing domains, and threat intelligence feeds.
Prioritising Data – Not all OSINT is immediately actionable. Prioritisation is essential based on factors like credibility, relevance, and urgency. For example, leaked employee credentials from a stealer log require immediate action, whereas general discussions about vulnerabilities may require further investigation.
Structuring Findings – OSINT should be documented in a format that facilitates analysis, such as:
- Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) – IP addresses, domains, hashes, and file signatures linked to attacks.
- Threat Actor Profiles – Identifying who is behind the attack, their motives, and their previous activities.
- Risk Level & Impact Assessment – Determining the likelihood and potential damage of a threat.

Step 4: Validate and Cross-Reference Intelligence

Not all OSINT findings will be immediately actionable, and some may even be misleading. Before taking action, intelligence should be verified by:

Comparing with known threat intelligence feeds – Are other security researchers reporting similar findings?
Checking for corroborating evidence – A leaked credential may be fake or outdated; checking other sources can confirm if it’s a real compromise.
Assessing the credibility of the source – Some threat actors exaggerate their claims to gain notoriety.

Step 5: Convert OSINT into Actionable Intelligence

The final step is ensuring that OSINT findings lead to tangible security improvements. This involves:

Reporting Intelligence to the Right Stakeholders

Security Operations Centre (SOC): To monitor and respond to active threats.
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): For strategic threat awareness and risk assessment.
Incident Response Teams: To take immediate action against identified threats.

Developing an Action Plan Based on OSINT Findings

If a phishing domain is detected, block it and alert employees to prevent credential theft.
If leaked credentials are found, reset affected passwords and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA).
If cybercriminals are discussing an upcoming attack, enhance monitoring and prepare defences before it happens.

Real-World Example: OSINT in Action – The Sony Pictures Hack (2014)

The 2014 cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment remains one of the most high-profile examples of how Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) can be leveraged in both cyber offence and defence. The breach, attributed to the North Korean-backed hacking group “Guardians of Peace” (GOP), led to the leak of highly sensitive data, including employee records, internal emails, and unreleased films.

How OSINT Played a Role in the Attack

The Sony Pictures hack was not an opportunistic attack; it was meticulously planned. The attackers used OSINT techniques to gather intelligence on Sony’s infrastructure, personnel, and security posture before launching their destructive campaign.

1. Employee Profiling & Social Engineering

Hackers scanned social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to gather information on Sony’s employees, particularly those in IT and security roles.
Publicly available resumes, job postings, and tech conference presentations gave insights into the software, systems, and security solutions Sony was using.
This information helped the attackers craft highly convincing phishing emails and pretext phone calls, tricking employees into revealing credentials or installing malware.

2. Mapping Sony’s Digital Infrastructure

OSINT sources such as Shodan (a search engine for internet-connected devices) allowed the attackers to identify exposed servers, outdated software, and misconfigured systems.
DNS records and WHOIS lookups provided information on Sony’s network architecture.
Discussions on public technical forums and GitHub repositories revealed additional details about Sony’s internal systems.

3. Third-Party Exploitation

Sony’s vendors and contractors also became intelligence targets.
By identifying Sony’s external partners through press releases and LinkedIn, the attackers could exploit weak security measures in third-party networks to gain indirect access.

The Attack Execution

Armed with this OSINT, the attackers deployed a sophisticated wiper malware that:

Destroyed over 3,000 computers and servers, wiping hard drives and making recovery difficult.
Exfiltrated terabytes of data, including unreleased films, salary details, and executives’ private emails.
Leaked damaging internal emails, causing reputational harm and leadership changes.
Displayed a threatening message on employees’ screens, warning them not to work for Sony.

Impact & Aftermath

Sony suffered an estimated $35 million in IT damage and over $100 million in indirect costs, including legal fees and security overhauls.
The attack was politically motivated, reportedly in response to Sony’s release of the film The Interview, which depicted North Korea’s leader in a negative light.
The FBI officially attributed the attack to North Korea, marking one of the first major cyber incidents linked to a nation-state actor.
Sony had to completely rebuild its IT infrastructure and implement more robust security measures, including OSINT-driven threat intelligence monitoring.

Lessons for Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)

The Sony hack underscores the critical importance of OSINT in cybersecurity—both as a weapon for attackers and a defensive tool for organisations. Key takeaways include:

Proactive OSINT Monitoring: Organisations must regularly monitor their exposed attack surface—social media, public records, and open databases—for sensitive information that could aid attackers.
Employee Cyber Hygiene: Training staff to recognise phishing attempts, social engineering tactics, and OSINT-driven reconnaissance is essential.
Third-Party Risk Management: Companies should enforce strict security standards on vendors and partners, ensuring that weak links in the supply chain do not become entry points.
Network Hardening: Regular audits of publicly exposed assets, DNS records, and internet-facing infrastructure can help detect and patch vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

The Sony Pictures hack serves as a stark reminder that OSINT is a double-edged sword—while cybercriminals and nation-state actors use it to plan sophisticated attacks, organisations can harness the same intelligence to defend themselves proactively.

To operationalise OSINT effectively, businesses must move beyond passive collection and integrate OSINT into their threat detection, risk management, and incident response strategies. The key to success lies in structuring intelligence workflows to ensure that OSINT is verified, actionable, and timely.

Key Takeaways

OSINT is only valuable when it leads to action. Raw data without context or validation is just noise. Organisations must refine and interpret OSINT to extract meaningful insights.
A structured OSINT collection plan is essential. By defining intelligence requirements, identifying reliable sources, and validating findings, organisations can ensure that their OSINT efforts are aligned with real security needs.
Automation enhances OSINT effectiveness. Given the sheer volume of open-source data, automated tools—such as SOS Intelligence—can help streamline collection, filtering, and analysis, ensuring that security teams focus on the most relevant threats.
Threat actors are already using OSINT against businesses. The Sony hack, among many other incidents, demonstrates how attackers leverage public information to conduct reconnaissance. Organisations must proactively monitor their attack surface to reduce exposure.
OSINT should be integrated into cybersecurity operations. Security teams, CISOs, and SOCs must incorporate OSINT insights into threat intelligence feeds, SIEM systems, and response workflows to improve incident detection and mitigation.

Final Thoughts

In today’s evolving threat landscape, cyber resilience requires intelligence-led security strategies. Open-Source Intelligence is no longer optional—it is a critical component of modern cybersecurity and threat intelligence. By leveraging automated solutions like SOS Intelligence, organisations can transform OSINT from an underutilised resource into a powerful tool for threat detection and risk mitigation.

The key question isn’t whether OSINT can help your organisation—it’s whether you are using it effectively.

Automating OSINT Collection with SOS Intelligence

Manually tracking and analysing OSINT sources is time-consuming, especially when dealing with fast-moving threats on the Dark Web. Automation is essential for transforming OSINT from passive intelligence into an actionable security asset.

SOS Intelligence provides the tools to help automate your OSINT collection. Our platform continuously monitors Dark Web marketplaces, leaked credential databases, and phishing intelligence sources and makes that data readily available for analysis. By using real-time threat intelligence feeds, organisations can:

Detect leaked credentials before they are weaponised.
Identify phishing sites impersonating their brand.
Identify intelligence regarding threats targeting their industry.
Streamline OSINT analysis by filtering noise and focusing on relevant intelligence.

With the right approach, OSINT can become an integral part of an organisation’s cyber defence strategy—helping security teams stay ahead of attackers rather than merely reacting to threats.

Photo by Christopher Burns on Unsplash

SOS Intelligence Webinar

From Data to Decisions – Using OSINT and CTI for Threat Detection

by Amir Hadzipasic

March 13, 2025

How to turn open-source intelligence into actionable cybersecurity insights

For our second webinar of 2025 we are going to be discussing the using OSINT and CTI for Threat Detection.

What are these we hear you say!? Read on and sign up!

——

Join us on Wednesday March 26th – 4pm UK time

Who is this for?

Anyone in a business or organisation who has responsibility for online security.
CTOs or senior managers who want to understand these key threats
IT / Cyber Security teams

What we will cover:

OSINT in Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)
Why Structured OSINT Collection Matters
Operationalising OSINT – The Intelligence Workflow
Define Intelligence Requirements
Identifying & Verifying OSINT Sources
Collecting & Processing OSINT Data
Validating & Acting on Intelligence
Reporting OSINT to Security Teams
Dark Web OSINT – The Hidden Cybercrime Marketplace
What’s Sold on the Dark Web?
Safe & Ethical Dark Web Monitoring
Case Studies
Automating OSINT & Dark Web Monitoring
Best Practices for Integrating OSINT into Security

Photo by Gregoire Jeanneau on Unsplash

Investigation, The Dark Web

Analysing DDoSIA: Threat Intelligence Insights into a Coordinated DDoS Operation

by Daniel Collyer

February 19, 2025

In the evolving landscape of cyber threats, DDoSIA has emerged as a significant force, orchestrating distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against organisations worldwide. Believed to be operated by pro-Russian hacktivist groups, DDoSIA mobilises volunteer participants to overwhelm targeted networks, causing disruptions to businesses, government institutions, and critical infrastructure. With its decentralised approach and sustained campaigns, this operation has become a persistent threat to cybersecurity resilience.

Tracking DDoSIA is crucial for cybersecurity and threat intelligence (CTI) professionals. By understanding its tactics, techniques, and infrastructure, defenders can better anticipate attacks, mitigate their impact, and adapt defensive strategies. As part of our mission at SOS Intelligence, we continuously monitor, collect, and analyse DDoSIA-related data, offering actionable intelligence to help organisations stay ahead of this evolving threat.

Understanding DDoSIA and Its Attack Infrastructure

DDoSIA is a coordinated distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) campaign operated by pro-Russian hacktivist groups, notably NoName057(16). This group, along with other affiliated threat actors, is known for conducting disruptive cyber operations against organisations and governments deemed hostile to Russian interests. NoName057(16) has been active since at least 2022, launching frequent DDoS attacks against Western institutions, particularly those supporting Ukraine. The group operates as part of a broader ecosystem of pro-Russian cyber collectives, often aligning with entities like KillNet and Anonymous Russia, which share similar geopolitical motivations.

Unlike state-sponsored advanced persistent threats (APTs) that focus on espionage or destructive cyberattacks, DDoSIA is a crowdsourced DDoS initiative, incentivising participants to join attacks. Volunteers—many of whom are ideologically aligned with Russia’s geopolitical stance—are recruited via messaging platforms and forums, where they receive instructions and access to attack tools. Participants are often encouraged through financial rewards or patriotic motivations, making DDoSIA a hybrid between hacktivism and cyber warfare.

How DDoSIA Operates

DDoSIA primarily leverages volumetric and application-layer DDoS attacks, aiming to overwhelm websites, APIs, and network infrastructure. Attack vectors include:

HTTP flooding – Generating large numbers of HTTP requests to exhaust server resources.
UDP and TCP floods – Saturating network bandwidth with high-volume traffic.
Slowloris attacks – Holding connections open to deplete available server connections.
Bot-assisted attacks – Some participants utilise proxy networks and automated scripts to scale up attack intensity.

The group has targeted various sectors, including government agencies, financial institutions, defence contractors, and logistics providers. A particular focus has been placed on countries actively supporting Ukraine, such as the UK, the US, Poland, and Germany. Attack campaigns often coincide with key political events, military aid announcements, or sanctions imposed against Russia, demonstrating a coordinated cyber-influence strategy.

The Importance of Real-Time Intelligence

Given DDoSIA’s adaptive tactics and decentralised operational model, real-time intelligence is critical for understanding and mitigating its impact. Traditional DDoS mitigation measures alone are insufficient, as the threat landscape evolves rapidly. Continuous monitoring of:

Attack infrastructure changes (e.g., new command-and-control nodes, shifting IP ranges).
Recruitment activities in underground forums and messaging platforms.
Indicators of compromise (IOCs) and attack patterns.

…enables cybersecurity teams to stay ahead of threats.

At SOS Intelligence, we actively track, collect, and analyse DDoSIA-related intelligence, helping organisations anticipate attacks, implement proactive defences, and mitigate operational disruptions before they escalate. By leveraging OSINT, deep web monitoring, and network telemetry, we provide actionable insights to counter the evolving tactics of DDoSIA and its affiliates.

Analysis, Evaluation, and Recommendations

Understanding DDoSIA’s Attack Trends

Unlike financially motivated DDoS campaigns, which often involve extortion or ransom demands, DDoSIA’s attacks are ideologically driven and aim to disrupt services in nations perceived as adversaries of Russia.

Since October 2024, SOS Intelligence has been collecting data from the DDoSIA network, the analysis of which provides critical insight into DDoSIA’s recent campaigns, revealing its geopolitical focus, attack methodologies, and targeted infrastructure. The findings help contextualise the scope of the operation, exposing which nations, industries, and services are most affected.

1. Top Targeted Countries

The distribution of attacks by country reveals a strategic effort to disrupt organisations aligned against Russian interests. The most targeted nations include:

Ukraine – Consistently the most heavily attacked country, aligning with DDoSIA’s broader mission to destabilise Ukrainian institutions and weaken its digital infrastructure. The targeting of government agencies, financial institutions, and media organisations suggests an attempt to create operational disruption and information blackout scenarios.
Poland & the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) – These nations have been frequent targets of Russian-aligned cyber campaigns due to their strong support for Ukraine. Their strategic position in NATO and the EU’s Eastern flank makes them key adversaries in Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy.
Western European Nations (France, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain) – The presence of these countries in DDoSIA’s targeting list suggests an attempt to undermine NATO members and critical Western businesses, particularly those providing support to Ukraine.
Czech Republic & Slovakia – These Central European nations have seen increasing attacks, likely due to their role in military aid and logistical support to Ukraine.

Evaluation

The targeting strategy aligns with broader Russian state-aligned cyber operations, which aim to erode public trust in institutions and disrupt critical services. The focus on government, finance, and media sectors indicates an effort to undermine operational stability and create ripple effects that extend beyond the direct victims.

Implications for Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI):

Intelligence gathering on Russian hacktivist groups should prioritise understanding evolving target lists to anticipate future attacks.
Governments and high-risk organisations in these regions should implement heightened DDoS protections and real-time monitoring to mitigate potential disruptions.

2. Top Victim IPs and Their DDoS Mitigation Status

A key insight from the dataset is the list of IPs that sustained the highest number of DDoS attacks, offering a window into DDoSIA’s strategic intent. The most frequently targeted IPs include:

Ukrainian Government Infrastructure (91.212.223.216, 18 attacks) – This aligns with previous attacks on Ukrainian state services, attempting to disrupt government communications, digital services, and emergency response systems.
Microsoft (13.107.246.44 & 13.107.246.61, 14 & 12 attacks) – These IPs are tied to Azure-hosted services, suggesting DDoSIA is attempting to target cloud infrastructure supporting Western businesses or cybersecurity initiatives.
Polish Banking Networks (193.19.152.74, 10 attacks) – The focus on financial institutions is indicative of an effort to destabilise economic activity in Poland, a strong supporter of Ukraine.
French E-commerce & Hosting Services (51.91.236.193, 8 attacks) – The targeting of commercial platforms suggests that DDoSIA is testing the impact of attacks on economic stability and supply chains.

DDoS Mitigation Status Analysis

One of the most notable findings is that many of these victim IPs do not publicly advertise their use of Cloudflare, AWS Shield, or other major DDoS mitigation services. This raises concerns about their ability to withstand sustained attack campaigns.

High-profile organisations like Microsoft likely have in-house protections, but the presence of their IPs on the list suggests that attackers are attempting to overwhelm cloud-based services.
Government infrastructure in Ukraine and Poland appears to be a primary target, reinforcing the need for centralised state-sponsored DDoS defences.
Smaller financial institutions and e-commerce platforms may lack the necessary defences, leaving them vulnerable to outages.

Evaluation

The data suggests that DDoSIA’s attack strategy is not just about volume but also persistence. By continuously targeting specific IPs associated with critical services, they are attempting to cause prolonged service degradation rather than instant takedowns.

Recommendations:

At-risk organisations should conduct a full audit of their current DDoS protection measures, ensuring they use enterprise-grade filtering solutions.
Cloud-based services should enhance their rate-limiting policies to mitigate bot-driven HTTP floods.
Government agencies should coordinate with cybersecurity providers to implement real-time defence measures.

3. Top Attack Methods and Vectors

DDoSIA utilises a combination of attack techniques designed to bypass basic mitigation measures. The most frequently observed attack vectors include:

TCP SYN Floods – A classic technique used to exhaust connection resources on servers.
HTTP GET/POST Floods – Targeting application-layer services, often overwhelming login pages, checkout processes, or API endpoints.
DNS Amplification – Leveraging misconfigured DNS servers to exponentially increase attack traffic.

Evaluation

The presence of HTTP-layer floods indicates an intentional effort to bypass traditional DDoS filtering, which primarily focuses on volumetric mitigation. The attack patterns suggest that DDoSIA’s botnet includes a mix of compromised systems, VPNs, and residential IPs, making mitigation more complex.

Recommendations

For Organisations at Risk

Implement Layered DDoS Mitigation
- Use a high-quality DDoS mitigation package, such as Cloudflare, AWS Shield, or Akamai for automated volumetric protection.
- Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to filter out malicious HTTP traffic.
Proactive Threat Intelligence & Monitoring

Implement network anomaly detection tools to identify and block low-volume, high-impact attacks.
Use geolocation filtering to block or challenge traffic from high-risk regions.
Strengthen API & Login Security

Enforce CAPTCHAs and rate-limiting on login and checkout pages.
Deploy bot management solutions to detect automated DDoS tools.

For CTI Professionals & Security Teams

Expand DDoSIA Attribution & Tracking
- Monitor NoName057(16)’s recruitment channels to identify new botnet strategies.
- Use honeypots and deception techniques to study attack behaviour in real-time.
Enhance Threat Intelligence Sharing

Collaborate with government agencies and private sector security teams to exchange attack data.
Track botnet infrastructure and preemptively blacklist high-risk traffic sources.
Develop & Update DDoS Playbooks

Conduct regular red team exercises to test DDoS resilience.
Simulate HTTP-layer and multi-vector attacks to identify weaknesses before adversaries exploit them.

Conclusion

The DDoSIA campaign, orchestrated by the NoName057(16) collective, is more than just a disruptive force—it is a tactically coordinated effort aimed at destabilising key institutions in countries opposing Russian geopolitical interests. The data analysed from recent attacks highlights clear patterns in target selection, attack vectors, and mitigation gaps, providing crucial insights into how organisations can defend against such threats.

The attack data reveals a strong geopolitical alignment, with Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic states, and Western European nations being primary targets. The focus on government agencies, financial institutions, and media organisations suggests an intent to erode public confidence, interfere with economic stability, and control narratives in critical regions. Additionally, the fact that Microsoft-hosted services and Polish banking networks have been frequently attacked underlines the strategic importance of both public and private sector entities remaining highly vigilant.

A notable trend is the increasing use of application-layer DDoS techniques (e.g., HTTP floods, DNS amplification, SYN floods), which require more than just volumetric DDoS mitigation. Attackers are leveraging residential proxies, VPN services, and compromised IoT botnets to make their traffic appear legitimate, complicating detection and response efforts.

DDoS as a Smokescreen for Other Cyber Threats

While DDoS attacks are disruptive, they can also serve as a distraction for more insidious cyber activities, such as:

Network Intrusions & Data Exfiltration – Attackers may launch DDoS attacks to overwhelm security teams, diverting attention while stealing sensitive data or planting backdoors in the organisation’s infrastructure.
Ransomware Deployment – A coordinated DDoS attack could mask the initial stages of ransomware infections, where threat actors attempt to move laterally through a network before detonating their payloads.
Supply Chain Compromise – Threat actors may target cloud-based services or third-party providers with DDoS attacks, creating cascading failures that expose vulnerabilities in interconnected systems.

For security teams, this means that DDoS attacks should never be treated in isolation. Organisations must simultaneously monitor network traffic, logs, and user activity for signs of unauthorised access, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration attempts occurring under the cover of a DDoS event.

Strategic Recommendations

To counteract the risks posed by DDoSIA and other hacktivist-driven campaigns, organisations must adopt a multi-layered cybersecurity strategy:

Advanced DDoS Protection – Deploy Cloudflare, AWS Shield, Akamai, or on-premise DDoS mitigation solutions, with an emphasis on layer 7 (application-level) attack filtering.
Real-Time Threat Intelligence & Incident Response – Maintain continuous monitoring of attack trends and collaborate with threat intelligence providers to detect emerging tactics early.
Cross-Channel Security Visibility – Integrate SIEM solutions and Network Detection & Response (NDR) tools to ensure that security teams aren’t solely focused on DDoS traffic, but also on potential concurrent threats.
Red Teaming & Attack Simulations – Conduct regular stress-testing of infrastructure and simulate multi-pronged attack scenarios to evaluate how well defensive controls hold up under real-world conditions.
Enhanced Access Controls & Zero Trust – Implement strict user authentication, segmentation of critical systems, and anomaly detection mechanisms to prevent lateral movement during attacks.

Final Thoughts

The DDoSIA campaign exemplifies the increasingly coordinated and persistent nature of cyber threats that blend hacktivism, cybercrime, and geopolitical objectives. As attack techniques evolve, organisations must move beyond reactive defences and adopt proactive, intelligence-driven security strategies.

Crucially, security teams must recognise that DDoS attacks may not be the endgame—they could be a diversion tactic for deeper, more damaging intrusions. By combining DDoS mitigation with network forensics, endpoint monitoring, and proactive intelligence-sharing, organisations can stay ahead of evolving threats and prevent large-scale disruptions before they take hold.

Ultimately, early detection, rapid response, and holistic cybersecurity visibility will determine whether organisations withstand or succumb to these politically motivated cyber assaults.

How SOS Intelligence Empowers You to Analyse and Mitigate DDoSIA Threats

For organisations looking to take a proactive approach to defending against DDoSIA, SOS Intelligence provides raw and processed data that can be leveraged for deeper analysis. Rather than simply offering static reports, our platform enables security teams to interrogate the data in real-time, uncovering trends, patterns, and attack methodologies that can directly inform defence strategies.

Using our threat intelligence feeds, organisations can:

Correlate Attacker Behaviour – By analysing historical and live attack data, security teams can identify recurring attack patterns, such as preferred attack vectors, geographic focus, and time-based fluctuations in activity.
Investigate Victimology – By reviewing which organisations, IP ranges, and services are being targeted, defenders can assess their own risk exposure and determine whether their industry, supply chain, or region is in DDoSIA’s crosshairs.
Detect Emerging Attack Trends – With access to raw network and attack metadata, users can identify new methods being deployed by DDoSIA before they become widespread. This allows for early countermeasure deployment before adversaries refine their techniques.
Enrich Internal Threat Intelligence – Security teams can cross-reference SOS Intelligence data with their own logs, SIEM alerts, and network telemetry to detect potential early-stage reconnaissance or ongoing infiltration attempts.
Assess DDoS Mitigation Effectiveness – By tracking which victims have successfully mitigated attacks, teams can gain insight into which defensive solutions (e.g., Cloudflare, AWS Shield, on-premise filtering) have proven most effective.

Turning Intelligence into Action

The true value of SOS Intelligence’s DDoSIA data lies in its ability to empower security professionals to extract their own insights. By combining our raw intelligence with in-house security expertise, organisations can:

Adjust firewall rules and DDoS protection settings based on the latest attack techniques.
Pre-emptively strengthen defences if they belong to an at-risk industry, country, or sector.
Monitor attack shifts in real-time to anticipate secondary threats such as network intrusions, data exfiltration, or ransomware campaigns that may accompany a DDoS event.
Share intelligence within their cybersecurity community to strengthen collective resilience against DDoSIA and similar threats.

Your Intelligence, Your Analysis, Your Defence

SOS Intelligence doesn’t just provide data, it offers a toolset for investigation and insight generation. By leveraging our feeds, logs, and analysis tools, security teams can turn raw data into actionable intelligence, enabling them to detect, understand, and mitigate DDoSIA threats before they escalate.

By combining our intelligence with your expertise, your organisation can stay ahead of DDoSIA’s evolving tactics and transform threat data into a proactive defence strategy.

Header image source – GBHackers.

SOS Intelligence Webinar

Livestream: Top 5 Cybersecurity Concerns for 2025

by Amir Hadzipasic

February 5, 2025

What Security Professionals Need to Know

For our first webinar of 2025 we are going to be discussing a number of key topics that will impact us all this year and in the future.

What we will cover:

AI-Powered Cyber Attacks
Advanced Ransomware Techniques
Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
Insider Threats
Geopolitical Tensions and State-Sponsored Attacks

We will also be looking at the important Mitigation Strategies and Best Practices to try and counter these threats. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion too. We are going to have a lot to discuss!

We are recording the session so if you sign up and are not able to make it, you will be sent a replay.

Photo by FlyD on Unsplash

Flash Alert

⚡ Flash Alert ⚡Breached Fortinet Config Data Released

by Daniel Collyer

January 16, 2025

FLASH ALERT – Breached Fortinet Config Data Released

On Tuesday, 14 January 2025, a threat group known as “BELSEN GROUP” publicly released 1.4GB of config data for FortiGate, impacting over 15,000 credentials. The data was advertised on Breach Forums, and given away for free via the group’s onion site.

Security researcher Kevin Beaumont reviewed the data and confirmed its authenticity. Given artifacts left over in the data, it is believed this data was breached due to exploiting CVE-2022-40684, a FortiGate firewall vulnerability exposed in October 2022. While a patch has since been released, it is suspected this data was obtained before the vulnerability was patched.

Event Timeline:

2022 Incident: Fortinet disclosed CVE-2022-40684, a zero-day vulnerability in Fortigate firewalls actively exploited by attackers. Organisations were urged to patch immediately.
January 2025: Threat group “BELSEN GROUP” publicly released a dataset containing configurations for over 15,000 Fortigate devices.

Key Details of the Data Dump:

Contents:
- Usernames and passwords: Some stored in plaintext.
- Device management digital certificates.
- Complete firewall rules.
- VPN user lists.
Verification: Security researcher Kevin Beaumont confirmed the dump’s authenticity by cross-referencing Shodan data with serial numbers from the release.
Data Origin: Exploitation of the CVE-2022-40684 vulnerability in 2022. The data was likely stolen in October 2022 but only disclosed publicly in January 2025.

Potential Impacts

Immediate Risk:
- Organisations exploited in 2022 (even if they patched later) now face exposure of critical data.
- Public availability of device configurations significantly increases the risk of further attacks.
Exposure Scope:
- Detailed network architectures and user credentials are now accessible to malicious actors.
- Organisations must assess the compromise of VPN and administrative credentials.

Recommendations

Immediate Actions:
- Verify if your organisation’s IPs are part of the affected list (to be published by researchers).
- Change all device credentials, including admin and VPN users.
- Reassess firewall rules and configurations for potential abuse.
Long-term Mitigation:

Confirm patches for CVE-2022-40684 were applied.
Evaluate additional layers of defence to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.
Incident Response:

Conduct forensic analysis if affected to determine the extent of historical exploitation.
Engage with security vendors for remediation and further threat intelligence.

Opinion, OSINT

Using OSINT and Dark Web Intelligence for Proactive Threat Detection

by Daniel Collyer

November 28, 2024

In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, staying one step ahead of cybercriminals requires a proactive approach. By integrating Dark Web intelligence into a broader OSINT (open-source intelligence) strategy, organisations can enhance their ability to detect emerging threats early, mitigate risks, and safeguard their digital assets. This blog post explores how Dark Web monitoring complements OSINT for threat detection, highlights real-world use cases, and provides actionable tips for incorporating it into your organisation’s threat intelligence program.

The Role of Dark Web Intelligence in OSINT

Dark Web intelligence is an indispensable part of a robust OSINT strategy, offering unparalleled insights into emerging cyber threats. Unlike the surface web, the Dark Web operates within encrypted networks like Tor and I2P, providing anonymity for users. This makes it a hub for illicit activities, including the trade of stolen credentials, malware distribution, and discussions of planned attacks. For organisations, monitoring these hidden spaces is critical for staying ahead of cybercriminals.

Why It’s Good to Use

The Dark Web serves as an early warning system. Threat actors often test and trade stolen data or breach exploits here long before they are detected in broader contexts. By identifying leaked information—such as customer records or intellectual property—organisations can mitigate risks before they escalate. Moreover, this intelligence provides insights into adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), enabling organisations to bolster defences.

How to Integrate Dark Web Intelligence into OSINT

Set Clear Intelligence Goals
Begin by defining your objectives. Are you searching for stolen credentials, insider threats, or potential data leaks? Tailored intelligence requirements help focus monitoring efforts and ensure actionable results.
Deploy Specialised Monitoring Tools
Given the encrypted nature of the Dark Web, navigating it safely and effectively requires purpose-built tools. Platforms designed for secure Dark Web exploration provide automated monitoring while protecting your operational security and ethical standing.
Combine with Broader Data Sources
The Dark Web is just one component of a comprehensive intelligence strategy. Correlating data from surface web sources, social media, and internal threat detection systems ensures a holistic view of potential risks.
Operationalise the Intelligence
Raw data is only as useful as its application. Integrate Dark Web intelligence into your existing workflows, such as SIEMs or threat intelligence platforms, to enhance detection and response capabilities.
Strengthen Cross-Team Collaboration
Share Dark Web findings with key stakeholders across departments—such as legal, compliance, and IT security—to ensure a coordinated response. For example, if stolen credentials are identified, collaborate with IT to enforce password resets and multi-factor authentication.
Monitor Regularly and Proactively
The Dark Web is dynamic, with information appearing and disappearing quickly. Continuous monitoring ensures you stay ahead of potential threats and respond in near real-time.

Real-World Benefits

When integrated effectively, Dark Web intelligence amplifies the value of OSINT. It enables organisations to move from a reactive to a proactive security posture, identifying threats before they materialise. By doing so, businesses can protect their data, mitigate financial losses, and uphold their reputation in an increasingly volatile cyber landscape.

Dark Web intelligence is not just about uncovering hidden risks—it’s about building resilience in an unpredictable digital world.

Case Studies: Proactive Threat Detection in Action

Detecting a Supply Chain Data Breach (Marriott International)

In 2020, threat actors targeted Marriott International’s supply chain, exposing millions of guests’ personal data. Prior to public disclosure, Dark Web monitoring by third-party researchers identified chatter in underground forums about the stolen data, including sensitive details such as reservation information and account credentials. This early detection enabled Marriott to initiate an investigation, disclose the breach to affected customers promptly, and mitigate potential damage. The case underscores how active Dark Web monitoring can flag breaches in progress, allowing organisations to react faster.

Uncovering Credentials Theft (LinkedIn Data Leak)

In 2021, LinkedIn faced a massive leak of user data, with over 700 million records posted on Dark Web forums. Before the dataset became widely available, Dark Web monitoring tools flagged small-scale posts advertising a “sample” of the records. Analysts determined that the data could be used for credential-stuffing attacks and phishing campaigns. Proactive notification from monitoring tools enabled LinkedIn users to secure their accounts and prompted the platform to bolster its defences against credential abuse.

Insider Threat Detection (Tesla)

In 2020, Tesla thwarted an insider threat that could have resulted in a ransomware attack. The company became aware of discussions on a Dark Web forum about a planned infiltration involving bribing an employee to install malware on Tesla’s network. Armed with this intelligence, Tesla’s security team conducted internal investigations, identified the employee involved, and cooperated with the FBI to prevent the attack. This example highlights how Dark Web intelligence can reveal insider risks and prevent potential crises.

These examples, grounded in publicly documented incidents, demonstrate the tangible benefits of integrating Dark Web monitoring into a proactive threat detection programme.

Actionable Tips for Integrating Dark Web Monitoring

Define Your Intelligence Requirements
Establish clear goals for what you aim to achieve with Dark Web monitoring. Are you looking for stolen credentials, potential insider threats, or mentions of your organisation in underground forums? Having well-defined objectives ensures your monitoring efforts are focused and effective.
Use Reliable Tools and Expertise
Dark Web monitoring requires specialised tools and expertise to navigate safely and gather relevant data. Partnering with trusted providers or leveraging purpose-built platforms ensures you collect actionable intelligence while maintaining operational security.
Integrate Insights with Broader Threat Intelligence
Dark Web intelligence should not exist in isolation. Integrate it with your overall threat intelligence programme, correlating data from the surface web, social media, and internal security systems to create a unified picture of potential threats.
Establish a Response Plan
Proactively determine how your organisation will respond to threats identified through Dark Web monitoring. Whether it’s notifying affected stakeholders, engaging law enforcement, or strengthening internal policies, having a clear plan ensures swift and effective action.
Maintain Compliance and Ethics
While monitoring the Dark Web, it is essential to remain compliant with laws and ethical guidelines. Ensure your activities respect privacy laws and do not inadvertently support or encourage illegal activity.

How SOS Intelligence Can Support Your Dark Web Investigations

At SOS Intelligence, we provide a comprehensive platform designed to empower organisations with proactive threat intelligence solutions. Combining advanced Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) capabilities with secure and effective Dark Web monitoring, we help businesses detect and respond to emerging cyber threats before they escalate.

Our platform offers a suite of features tailored to meet the evolving needs of modern organisations:

Dark Web Monitoring: We uncover critical insights by tracking stolen data, compromised credentials, and illicit activities in hidden online forums and marketplaces.
Customisable Threat Dashboards: Our user-friendly dashboards consolidate vital information, enabling organisations to visualise risks and prioritise responses.
Automated Alerts and Notifications: Stay informed with real-time updates about threats targeting your organisation, ensuring swift action and enhanced security.
Secure and Ethical OSINT Tools: We prioritise compliance and ethical standards while equipping businesses with the tools to collect, analyse, and utilise intelligence effectively.
Tailored Integrations: Our solutions integrate seamlessly with existing security frameworks, making it easier to bolster protection without disrupting workflows.

Our services are designed to meet the needs of businesses across industries, from SMEs to large enterprises. With SOS Intelligence, organisations can reduce exposure to risks, enhance resilience, and remain one step ahead of adversaries in a constantly evolving threat landscape.

Conclusion

Integrating Dark Web intelligence into your OSINT strategy can transform your organisation’s approach to threat detection. By identifying risks early and acting decisively, you can protect your business from potentially devastating cyber incidents. With the right tools, expertise, and processes in place, proactive threat detection is not only achievable but also essential in today’s interconnected world.

Why not get in touch now? A conversation can go a long way.

Web Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Opinion, OSINT, Tips

OSINT Essentials: Planning, Recording, and Evaluating Intelligence

by Daniel Collyer

November 21, 2024

Introduction

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) involves the collection and analysis of publicly available information to derive actionable insights. From cybersecurity professionals monitoring emerging threats to investigators uncovering fraud, OSINT has become a cornerstone of modern intelligence gathering. It enables organisations and individuals to stay informed, make data-driven decisions, and mitigate risks in an increasingly interconnected world.

Despite its accessibility, successful OSINT is far from straightforward. Effective planning and preparation are fundamental to achieving meaningful results. Without a clear strategy, researchers can find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of available data or risk compromising their operations due to poor security practices. Thoughtful preparation not only streamlines the intelligence-gathering process but also ensures that findings are accurate, relevant, and ethically obtained.

This blog serves as a practical guide to the essential steps of OSINT planning and preparation. Whether you are a seasoned analyst or new to the field, it will equip you with the tools and techniques needed to set your investigation on the right path. We’ll explore how to define your intelligence requirements, create a robust collection plan, and utilise secure tools for effective research. Additionally, we’ll delve into best practices for recording your findings and evaluating the reliability of your sources.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a solid framework for conducting efficient, ethical, and secure OSINT investigations, ensuring your efforts deliver valuable results while minimising risks. Let’s get started...

Establishing Intelligence Requirements

The foundation of any successful OSINT investigation lies in clearly defining your intelligence requirements. This process ensures your efforts are purposeful, efficient, and focused on delivering actionable insights. By taking the time to outline what you need to achieve, you can avoid unnecessary data collection and concentrate on gathering the most relevant information.

Defining Objectives

The first step is to ask yourself: Why am I conducting OSINT? Understanding the purpose of your investigation is critical. Are you looking to assess a potential security threat, monitor the reputation of your organisation, or gather competitive intelligence? Clearly defining the expected outcomes will help shape the scope of your research. Objectives should be specific, measurable, and aligned with the broader goals of your organisation or project. For example, rather than simply aiming to “monitor social media,” you might define a goal like “identify potential phishing campaigns targeting employees on LinkedIn.”

Gap Analysis

With your objectives established, conduct a gap analysis to determine what you already know, what is missing, and what you need to discover. This step involves reviewing existing information to identify gaps that need filling. For example:

What do I already know? You may already have access to internal reports or historical data.
What information is missing? Perhaps you lack details about the methods or timing of an anticipated cyberattack.
What do I need to know? Define the specific data points or insights required to address these gaps, such as identifying potential attackers or understanding their tactics.

This structured approach helps ensure your efforts remain focused and prevents the collection of irrelevant or redundant data.

Prioritising Questions

Once gaps have been identified, break down your objectives into smaller, actionable questions. These questions should directly address your intelligence needs and provide clarity on what to investigate. For example, if your objective is to assess a threat actor, your questions might include:

What digital footprints are associated with this actor?
Are there any recent mentions of their activity on forums or social media?
Which tools or methods do they commonly use?

By prioritising your questions, you can allocate resources effectively, tackling the most critical issues first while ensuring that secondary queries are not overlooked. This process transforms broad objectives into a structured framework for investigation, forming the backbone of a well-executed OSINT operation.

Creating an Intelligence Collection Plan

A well-crafted intelligence collection plan is essential for translating objectives into actionable steps. This plan provides a structured approach to gathering the required information while ensuring efficiency and adherence to ethical and legal standards.

Mapping the Requirements to Sources

The first step in creating a collection plan is to map your intelligence requirements to relevant sources. Begin by identifying where the needed information is most likely to be found. For instance:

The surface web (e.g., websites, social media, and public databases) is ideal for gathering general information or monitoring public discourse.
The deep web (e.g., subscription services, private forums) can provide more specialised data.
The Dark Web may be necessary for investigating illicit activities, such as cybercrime or data breaches.

It’s also crucial to categorise your information as primary or secondary. Primary sources include first-hand data, such as official statements or original documents, while secondary sources involve analysis or interpretations of primary data, such as news articles or reports. Prioritising primary sources can enhance the reliability of your findings.

Setting a Timeline

A clear timeline is vital for maintaining momentum and ensuring timely results. Break down the collection process into stages, such as identifying sources, gathering data, and reviewing findings, and assign deadlines to each stage. This structure prevents delays and keeps the investigation aligned with overarching objectives.

Allocating Resources

Effective OSINT requires the right tools, personnel, and technical support. Identify and assign the resources needed for the task. For example:

Tools: Use specialised software such as Maltego for data analysis or Shodan for network reconnaissance.
Personnel: Allocate roles based on expertise, such as assigning experienced analysts to sensitive tasks.
Technical requirements: Ensure you have secure systems and access to the necessary platforms.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Adhering to legal and ethical guidelines is non-negotiable in OSINT. Research should comply with applicable laws, such as data protection regulations and restrictions on accessing certain types of information. Additionally, ethical considerations, such as respecting privacy and avoiding harm, should underpin your approach. A robust plan ensures that collection methods are both effective and responsible.

By aligning your collection activities with these steps, you can build a systematic and ethical framework for gathering intelligence, ultimately supporting informed decision-making.

Ensuring Safe and Secure OSINT Practices

Conducting OSINT comes with inherent risks, ranging from inadvertently revealing your identity to alerting the subject of your investigation. To mitigate these risks, it is vital to adopt safe and secure practices. These measures protect both your personal information and the integrity of your investigation.

Essential Tools

Several tools and technologies are fundamental for maintaining security during OSINT operations:

VPN (Virtual Private Network): A VPN is essential for masking your IP address and encrypting your internet traffic, ensuring anonymity and protecting against data interception. Choose a reputable, no-logs provider to maximise privacy. VPNs can also help to reach different intelligence sources; search engines will typically return results tailored to your location, so utilising a VPNs ability to change you location may deliver different results.
Virtual Machines (VM): Using a virtual machine isolates your OSINT activities from your primary operating system, minimising the risk of malware or other threats affecting your main environment.
Browser Containers and Privacy Extensions: Tools such as browser containers or extensions like uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger prevent tracking, block ads, and compartmentalise browsing activities, keeping your research secure and untraceable.
Sock Puppet Accounts: Create fake, plausible online identities (sock puppets) to access forums, social media, or other platforms without exposing your true identity. Ensure these accounts are credible, with consistent behaviour and relevant profiles.

Operational Security (OPSEC)

Maintaining strong operational security is critical to avoid tipping off targets or compromising your investigation. Key OPSEC practices include:

Separating identities: Never link your personal accounts or systems to your OSINT activities. Use dedicated devices or accounts to maintain clear boundaries.
Minimising digital footprints: Avoid actions that might leave behind traces of your research. This includes disabling auto-fill forms, clearing cookies, and using tools that limit tracking.
Being cautious with communication: If engaging with others, ensure your interactions do not reveal your true intent or identity. Use encrypted communication channels where necessary.
Avoiding direct engagement with targets: Observing from a distance is usually safer and less likely to alert subjects.

By leveraging the right tools and adhering to strict OPSEC principles, you can minimise risks, protect sensitive information, and ensure your OSINT efforts remain secure. These practices enable you to gather intelligence effectively without compromising your safety or the investigation’s success.

Recording Your Research

Proper documentation is a cornerstone of effective OSINT, ensuring that your findings are well-organised, reliable, and easily retrievable. Adopting structured recording practices enhances consistency, maintains accountability, and supports the analysis process.

Documentation Standards

Consistency is key when recording OSINT research. Use structured formats to organise your data in a way that is easy to understand and follow. For instance, spreadsheets or templates can help standardise entries, ensuring that all relevant details are captured.

Include metadata with every piece of information you collect. Metadata provides essential context and should include:

Time: When the information was collected or observed.
Source: The origin of the information, such as a website URL or social media post.
Method of collection: How the information was obtained, e.g., through manual research or automated tools.

This structured approach ensures that your records are clear and verifiable, which is particularly important when sharing findings or conducting further analysis.

Organising Information

Effective organisation is essential for managing the often vast amounts of data generated during OSINT investigations. Tools such as Evernote, Airtable, or specialised OSINT platforms can be invaluable for tagging, categorising, and retrieving information. Use tags to group similar data points or highlight key themes, and create categories based on factors such as relevance, reliability, or type of source.

Visual tools like mind maps or flowcharts can also help illustrate connections between different pieces of information, making patterns easier to identify.

Version Control

Maintaining version control is another critical aspect of documentation. Tracking changes ensures that your records remain accurate and provides an audit trail for accountability. Use tools that support version histories, such as Google Sheets or Git-based platforms, to monitor edits and maintain earlier versions of your work.

By implementing strong version control practices, you can preserve the integrity of your data and address discrepancies if new information arises or errors are discovered.

Recording your research systematically not only keeps your findings organised but also strengthens the reliability and credibility of your OSINT investigations. With clear documentation, you’ll be better prepared to analyse data, collaborate with others, and draw actionable insights from your efforts.

Evaluating Sources of Intelligence

Evaluating the quality and credibility of sources is a critical component of effective OSINT investigations. Without proper scrutiny, intelligence may be flawed, leading to misinformed decisions or wasted effort. This section explores key techniques for assessing source reliability, identifying and addressing bias, and maintaining ongoing validation of information.

Source Reliability and the Admiralty Code

One widely used framework for evaluating intelligence sources is the Admiralty Code, which grades both the reliability of the source and the credibility of the information. This two-part approach provides a structured way to assess the dependability of data:

Source Reliability: Assign ratings based on the track record of the source. For instance, a reputable organisation or individual with a history of providing accurate information might be considered highly reliable, while an unverified or unknown entity could be less so. Labels such as “reliable,” “usually reliable,” or “unreliable” are commonly applied to reflect varying degrees of confidence.
Information Credibility: Evaluate the content itself for accuracy and relevance. Factors such as internal consistency, corroboration with independent sources, and alignment with known facts are critical. Credibility is often categorised as “confirmed,” “likely,” or “doubtful.”

By combining these two elements, the Admiralty Code ensures a systematic evaluation process that highlights both trustworthy sources and credible data. However, this framework works best when supported by cross-referencing information with other independent sources.

Addressing Bias

Bias is an inherent risk in OSINT, as every source is influenced by its perspectives, interests, or agendas. Recognising and mitigating bias is essential to prevent skewed interpretations:

Identify Potential Biases: Consider the source’s motivations, affiliations, and target audience. For example, a corporate press release may emphasise favourable aspects while omitting negative details.
Use Diverse Sources: Balance viewpoints by consulting a range of materials, including those from opposing or neutral perspectives. Diversity helps counteract potential one-sided narratives.
Analyse Presentation: Be alert to emotionally charged language or selective data presentation, which may indicate an attempt to sway opinion rather than present facts.

Continuous Validation

Intelligence is rarely static. As new information becomes available, previously gathered data must be re-evaluated:

Reassess Regularly: Schedule periodic reviews of key findings, especially in dynamic situations where information evolves.
Update Records: Incorporate fresh data into your intelligence framework while documenting how it affects existing conclusions.
Corroborate New Insights: Validate emerging information against known facts to avoid reliance on unverified updates.

Through these practices, you can ensure your intelligence sources remain reliable, balanced, and up to date, supporting robust and informed decision-making.

Review and Adjust

The process of OSINT is not static; it requires continuous evaluation and adaptation to ensure the investigation remains effective and relevant. Regularly reviewing progress, adjusting the strategy, and conducting post-mortem analysis are key steps to refine your approach and maximise the value of your intelligence efforts.

Assessing Progress

Regular assessment is essential to determine whether the intelligence requirements are being met. This involves comparing the initial objectives with the findings gathered so far. Key questions to consider include:

Are the intelligence requirements being addressed? Review whether the collected data aligns with the original goals and whether any critical gaps remain.
Is the information actionable? Intelligence should be practical and contribute to decision-making processes, not just a collection of raw data.
Are resources being used efficiently? Consider whether tools, time, and personnel are being effectively allocated to achieve the desired outcomes.

Periodic reviews ensure that efforts stay on track and help identify areas requiring improvement before significant time or resources are wasted.

Adapting the Plan

Flexibility is vital in OSINT investigations. Findings may reveal unexpected insights, uncover new challenges, or highlight inefficiencies in the collection strategy. In response, the plan must be adjusted dynamically:

Refine Objectives: If new priorities emerge or initial assumptions prove incorrect, redefine your intelligence requirements to better reflect the evolving situation.
Optimise Tools and Methods: Evaluate whether the current tools and techniques are delivering the desired results. If not, consider integrating alternative platforms or approaches.
Address Challenges: Identify and mitigate obstacles, such as limited access to sources, technical difficulties, or unforeseen biases in the collected data.

By regularly adapting the plan, you ensure that the investigation remains relevant and responsive to changing circumstances.

Post-Mortem Analysis

Once the OSINT project is complete, conducting a thorough post-mortem analysis provides valuable insights for future investigations. This reflective step allows teams to identify successes, address shortcomings, and refine their processes:

Evaluate What Worked: Document tools, methods, and strategies that proved effective, so they can be replicated or enhanced in subsequent projects.
Analyse Challenges: Review obstacles encountered during the investigation, such as time delays, unreliable sources, or gaps in information. Develop strategies to mitigate these in future efforts.
Gather Feedback: Solicit input from all team members involved in the investigation to gain diverse perspectives on what could be improved.

A robust review process not only strengthens the current project’s outcomes but also contributes to building a more efficient and effective framework for future OSINT operations. With continuous improvement as a guiding principle, your OSINT efforts will evolve to meet the demands of an ever-changing landscape.

Conclusion

Thorough planning and preparation are the cornerstones of successful OSINT investigations. As this guide has outlined, establishing clear intelligence requirements, creating a structured collection plan, evaluating sources meticulously, and maintaining secure practices are all essential components of a robust approach. These steps not only ensure that your findings are relevant and actionable but also help mitigate the risks associated with open-source intelligence gathering.

Each phase of the OSINT process is interconnected, forming a cohesive framework that enhances the efficiency and reliability of your investigation. From defining objectives and identifying gaps in knowledge to validating sources and adapting strategies, every element builds on the last, reinforcing the integrity of your efforts. Skipping or neglecting any step can lead to inefficiencies, inaccuracies, or even ethical lapses, emphasising the need for a comprehensive and methodical approach.

Moreover, OSINT is a dynamic discipline that requires ongoing evaluation and adaptability. The ability to reassess progress, refine strategies, and learn from past experiences ensures that your efforts remain relevant and effective in an ever-changing landscape. By adopting a continuous improvement mindset, you not only achieve better results but also build a foundation for long-term success in intelligence gathering.

As you embark on your OSINT endeavours, remember to prioritise security, ethical considerations, and the quality of your data. The tools and techniques may vary depending on the specific context, but the principles of careful planning, rigorous evaluation, and disciplined execution are universal. A methodical and secure approach not only enhances your outcomes but also fosters confidence in your findings, enabling you to make informed decisions and drive meaningful action.

By integrating these best practices into your workflow, you can unlock the full potential of OSINT while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

Photos by Jon Tyson Roman Kraft Hayley Murray on Unsplash

Opinion, OSINT

OSINT and Ethics: Navigating the Challenges of Responsible Intelligence Gathering

by Daniel Collyer

November 14, 2024

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) has become an invaluable tool across cybersecurity, business intelligence, and law enforcement. By leveraging publicly available information from sources like social media, websites, and public records, OSINT enables organisations to monitor emerging threats, analyse competitor activity, and gain insights without resorting to intrusive or covert methods. With the rapid growth of digital information, OSINT offers unprecedented access to data that can inform decision-making and risk assessments.

However, this access to information comes with significant ethical and legal challenges, particularly concerning privacy and data handling. Unlike traditional intelligence methods, OSINT relies on openly available data, which can blur the lines of ethical responsibility. Practitioners must consider whether the information they gather could infringe upon individuals’ privacy, especially when it involves personal data or data that, while accessible, may not be ethically sound to exploit. Additionally, OSINT activities often cross international borders, complicating compliance with different countries’ data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU.

The goal of this discussion is to provide guidance on how to conduct OSINT responsibly. By adhering to ethical principles and respecting legal frameworks, OSINT professionals can ensure their intelligence-gathering activities remain respectful of privacy while effectively supporting organisational objectives. Responsible OSINT practices not only help to mitigate legal risks but also uphold the trustworthiness and integrity of the profession in an era where data accessibility is at an all-time high.

What is OSINT and Why Are Ethics Important?

OSINT is the process of collecting and analysing information from publicly accessible sources, including social media, news sites, forums, and online databases. OSINT allows organisations to gather actionable insights without the need for invasive methods, drawing on the vast and diverse information available on the internet. It has become an essential tool for sectors like cybersecurity, business intelligence, and governmental operations, enabling organisations to gain valuable information about potential threats, market conditions, and broader geopolitical developments.

For cybersecurity, OSINT aids in monitoring for potential data leaks, phishing threats, or signals of a planned attack, enhancing an organisation’s preparedness and defence capabilities. In the business world, OSINT enables companies to stay informed about competitor moves, market trends, and customer sentiment, giving them an edge in a highly competitive landscape. Meanwhile, governmental bodies leverage OSINT to support law enforcement and intelligence operations, tracking issues like disinformation campaigns or border security threats.

However, as powerful as OSINT is, it raises important ethical questions. Given its reliance on publicly accessible data, OSINT operates in a grey area where information, while legally available, may still be ethically sensitive. For instance, gathering personal information from social media could potentially breach an individual’s privacy, even if the content is technically public. Additionally, different jurisdictions have varying regulations on data use, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU, which aims to protect individuals’ privacy rights. These complexities make it critical for OSINT practitioners to conduct intelligence gathering responsibly, balancing their goals with a commitment to ethical standards.

The importance of ethics in OSINT cannot be overstated. Ethical considerations ensure that intelligence practices respect privacy and remain compliant with legal frameworks. By maintaining responsible OSINT practices, organisations not only mitigate potential legal risks but also build trust and credibility, reinforcing the responsible use of publicly available data in a way that benefits both their objectives and the public at large.

Key Ethical Challenges in OSINT

OSINT operates within an ethical landscape shaped by the ease of access to publicly available information, presenting unique challenges for responsible practice. These challenges include balancing privacy with public access, ensuring accuracy, and navigating issues of consent and transparency.

One of the core ethical tensions in OSINT is the balance between privacy and public access. While the data collected in OSINT activities is publicly accessible, individuals may not be aware that their information could be repurposed for intelligence gathering. Just because data is available online does not automatically justify its unrestricted use. This tension raises important ethical questions about respecting individuals’ privacy while still leveraging OSINT’s benefits. Practitioners must assess each case individually, considering the context of the data and its potential impact on individuals’ privacy before using it.

Another ethical challenge is the responsibility to ensure accuracy and verification. OSINT can often include information from varied sources, some of which may be incomplete, biased, or outdated. The ethical obligation to verify information is crucial to avoid the risk of spreading misinformation, which can lead to serious consequences for individuals or organisations implicated by unverified intelligence. OSINT practitioners are ethically bound to rigorously check and corroborate sources before sharing information or using it in decision-making.

Lastly, the issues of consent and transparency are complex in the digital age. Although information may be publicly available, that does not imply individuals have consented to its use for intelligence purposes. The assumption that public access equates to ethical use oversimplifies the reality of digital consent. People may share information without intending for it to be monitored or analysed by third parties. Transparency in OSINT practices—clearly communicating how and why data is gathered and handled—helps address these complexities, fostering ethical integrity.

Legal Implications of OSINT

OSINT can offer invaluable insights, yet it must operate within complex legal frameworks to ensure compliance and protect individual rights. Key considerations include adherence to data protection laws, managing cross-border legal challenges, and balancing security needs with privacy rights.

managed service provider (MSP) CTS has suffered a significant cyberattack as a result of CitrixBleed

One of the primary legal obligations for OSINT practitioners is adhering to data protection laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the US. These regulations set strict guidelines on the collection, processing, and retention of personal data, designed to protect individual privacy rights. OSINT activities that involve personal information must follow these laws closely to avoid legal repercussions and potential fines. GDPR, for instance, mandates data minimisation and purpose limitation, meaning that personal data collected should be directly relevant and necessary for the purpose it was obtained.

Cross-border legal issues further complicate OSINT practices, as data gathered may span multiple jurisdictions, each with its own data protection laws. Some countries have strict rules about how personal data can be used, even if it is publicly accessible. This can create legal ambiguity for OSINT practitioners, who must navigate a patchwork of global regulations. Ensuring compliance requires a comprehensive understanding of both local and international data protection requirements.

Finally, OSINT practitioners must balance the need for security with respect for privacy, especially in sensitive areas like crime prevention or investigative journalism. While gathering intelligence is critical for identifying and mitigating risks, it is essential to respect individual privacy rights and limit data collection to what is ethically and legally appropriate. This balance is vital in preserving public trust and ensuring that OSINT activities contribute positively to security without infringing on personal freedoms.

Best Practices for Ethical and Responsible OSINT

Effective and ethical OSINT requires a well-defined approach that prioritises respect for privacy and accountability. Adopting best practices, including establishing a clear ethical framework, maintaining operational security (OPSEC), and ensuring transparency, helps to safeguard both the integrity of intelligence activities and the privacy rights of individuals.

A clear ethical framework is essential for guiding OSINT activities. Organisations should establish detailed guidelines that define when, how, and why information is collected. This framework should outline permissible sources, data retention policies, and limitations on personal data usage. By setting clear boundaries and ethical principles, practitioners can avoid unnecessary data collection and mitigate risks related to privacy infringements or misuse. Having a structured ethical policy also provides a standardised approach, ensuring consistency and compliance across all OSINT activities.

Operational Security (OPSEC) is another critical aspect, as it helps protect both the organisation conducting OSINT and the individuals involved. Practitioners should use secure methods for gathering, storing, and sharing information to prevent sensitive data from being exposed or misused. This includes anonymising searches where appropriate, securely storing information, and protecting the identities of individuals involved in sensitive intelligence work. Effective OPSEC safeguards ensure that OSINT activities do not unintentionally compromise the security of individuals or the organisation itself.

Transparency and accountability are essential in maintaining ethical OSINT practices. Keeping a thorough record of OSINT activities, including sources, decision-making processes, and any limitations placed on data usage, supports accountability and aids in addressing any ethical concerns that may arise. Documenting activities and decisions also provides a reference for evaluating practices against legal or regulatory requirements, fostering a culture of transparency.

Managing Privacy Concerns in OSINT Work

Privacy is a primary concern in OSINT, as intelligence activities often involve handling sensitive and personal information. Best practices, including data minimisation, anonymisation, and responsible data retention, help mitigate privacy risks while maintaining effective intelligence gathering.

Data minimisation and anonymisation are essential principles in responsible OSINT. Practitioners should collect only the information necessary to meet the intelligence objectives, avoiding extraneous data that could infringe upon privacy rights. By focusing on essential data and anonymising any personal information wherever possible, OSINT professionals reduce the risk of unnecessary privacy breaches and align their activities with data protection regulations.

Handling sensitive information securely is also crucial throughout the OSINT lifecycle. This includes implementing secure storage solutions, restricting access to authorised personnel, and using encryption when storing or sharing sensitive data. Practitioners should establish protocols to handle particularly sensitive information carefully, ensuring it is protected against unauthorised access or leaks that could harm individuals or compromise organisational integrity.

Data retention and disposal are equally important for privacy management. Setting clear guidelines on how long data will be retained, with periodic reviews, ensures that information is only kept as long as it is useful and relevant. When data is no longer needed, secure deletion and disposal processes should be followed to prevent the potential misuse of archived information. These practices help maintain the privacy of individuals and uphold ethical standards in OSINT.

Adapting to Emerging OSINT Technologies and Ethical Considerations

As new technologies emerge, the OSINT community must continuously evolve its ethical practices to address potential privacy and security concerns. Staying informed about advances in OSINT tools and techniques, particularly in AI, is essential for maintaining responsible intelligence practices.

Ongoing education is crucial for understanding how new tools may impact ethical practices in OSINT. Technologies such as AI for data analysis can increase efficiency and reveal deeper insights, but they also pose unique ethical questions, including potential biases in data interpretation and the risk of excessive data collection. Practitioners should stay informed of new developments and continuously assess the ethical implications of their tools.

Regularly reviewing and updating ethical guidelines ensures they remain relevant as technology and privacy norms change. Guidelines must be adaptable, reflecting current technologies and emerging privacy concerns, such as the increased collection and processing of personal data. Regular updates also help organisations align with evolving data protection laws, maintaining compliance and ethical standards.

The role of AI in OSINT, in particular, demands a high level of transparency, fairness, and accountability. As AI tools become more common in OSINT, practitioners must address ethical challenges related to potential biases, data accuracy, and automated decision-making. Using AI responsibly in OSINT involves transparent methods and a commitment to fairness, ensuring that AI-based insights are accurate and do not unintentionally harm individuals or communities. By proactively addressing these ethical considerations, OSINT professionals can adapt effectively to the changing technological landscape.

Conclusion

The practice of ethical and responsible OSINT is essential to maintaining credibility and trust in the field. By prioritising privacy, accuracy, and transparency, organisations can ensure that OSINT serves its purpose effectively while respecting individual rights and adhering to legal standards. These principles are especially critical as OSINT continues to expand in scope and as technological advancements push the boundaries of data collection and analysis.

A commitment to ongoing ethical review is vital, as societal standards and privacy laws evolve in response to new challenges. Organisations that regularly assess and adapt their ethical frameworks can stay ahead of emerging issues, ensuring that their intelligence practices remain responsible and compliant. This proactive approach not only protects individuals’ privacy but also reinforces the organisation’s reputation as a trusted, responsible entity in the intelligence community.

Industry collaboration is key to promoting best practices in OSINT. By working together, organisations, professionals, and regulators can develop and share guidelines that uphold ethical standards across the field. Collaborative efforts to create clear, adaptable practices and to address emerging ethical questions will support a sustainable and responsible future for OSINT. As the landscape of open-source intelligence grows more complex, this shared commitment to ethics will be essential for building a secure and trustworthy intelligence ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.

CCTV Photo by Tobias Tullius on Unsplash

Opinion, OSINT, Tips

OSINT Terminology Basics

by Daniel Collyer

November 8, 2024

To kick off our OSINT series, here’s a guide to key terms in open-source intelligence, organised into categories. These will lay the foundation for understanding OSINT’s role in gathering insights:

Types of Intelligence

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT): Intelligence gathered from publicly accessible sources, including online and offline materials. OSINT is essential in cybersecurity, threat intelligence, and digital investigations.
SOCMINT (Social Media Intelligence): Intelligence derived from social media, analysing public posts, trends, and interactions. SOCMINT provides real-time insights but requires careful handling of privacy and ethical considerations.
HUMINT (Human Intelligence): Information collected through direct human interaction, such as interviews, surveys, or conversations. HUMINT is often used alongside OSINT to validate findings.
TECHINT (Technical Intelligence): Intelligence from analysing technical data, like system specifications, software tools, and network structures. It’s valuable for understanding technical aspects of targets or threats.

Layers of the Internet

Surface Web: The portion of the internet accessible through standard search engines (e.g., Google), including publicly available websites, blogs, and social media—about 5-10% of online content.
Deep Web: Content not indexed by search engines, such as academic databases, private files, and subscription-based resources. Unlike the Dark Web, it’s mostly used for legitimate purposes.
Dark Web: A hidden layer of the internet accessible only through specialised software (e.g., Tor). Known for its anonymity, it hosts both legal and illegal activities.

Data and Information Gathering Techniques

Footprinting: The initial OSINT phase, where information is gathered to understand a target’s structure, such as network details, employee information, and online presence.
Data Scraping: Extracting large volumes of data from websites or online sources for analysis and intelligence purposes.
Social Engineering: Manipulating individuals to divulge confidential information by exploiting psychological tactics rather than technical hacking.

Technical Aspects and Tools

Metadata: Data that provides information about other data. In OSINT, metadata can reveal details such as the author of a document, creation date, and location.
Geolocation: Determining a device or individual’s physical location based on data such as IP addresses, GPS, or social media posts.
API (Application Programming Interface): A set of rules enabling different software to communicate. APIs are often used in OSINT to retrieve data from various platforms.
Encryption: The method of encoding information to prevent unauthorised access. It’s a crucial tool for protecting sensitive data in OSINT operations.

Cybersecurity and Threat Analysis

Threat Intelligence: Information about threats and threat actors, helping organisations prepare for potential cyberattacks.
Attribution: Identifying the source of a cyberattack or malicious activity, often using OSINT techniques to trace back to the origin.
Vulnerability Assessment: Evaluating a system for security weaknesses that could be exploited by threat actors, with OSINT uncovering publicly available information about potential vulnerabilities.
Digital Footprint: The trail of data left behind while using the internet, including sites visited, emails sent, and online information submitted.

Also, don’t miss this post on the basics of OSINT.

Photos by Thomas Jensen Stellan Johansson Gregoire Jeanneau on Unsplash

Opinion, OSINT, Tips

OSINT Infographic – tips for successful online research

by Daniel Collyer

November 4, 2024

Open source intelligence (OSINT) is the collection and analysis of data gathered from open sources (overt sources and publicly available information) to produce actionable intelligence. Over the course of November we have a wealth of information and content for you on this very important subject…

Starting with this infographic showing tips for successful online research:

The infographic is also available as a PDF download here.

What other posts have we written that you will find useful?

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Inside a Cyber Attack – Key Phases and Business Impact

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Photo by Clemens van Lay on Unsplash

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Operationalising OSINT: Turning Intelligence into Action

The Intelligence Cycle: Transforming OSINT into Actionable Intelligence

Breaking Down the Intelligence Cycle

Defining OSINT in CTI

Developing an Action Plan Based on OSINT Findings

How OSINT Played a Role in the Attack

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

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Join us on Wednesday March 26th – 4pm UK time

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Understanding DDoSIA and Its Attack Infrastructure

How DDoSIA Operates

Analysis, Evaluation, and Recommendations

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2. Top Victim IPs and Their DDoS Mitigation Status

3. Top Attack Methods and Vectors

Recommendations

Conclusion

Strategic Recommendations

Final Thoughts

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Using OSINT and Dark Web Intelligence for Proactive Threat Detection

OSINT Essentials: Planning, Recording, and Evaluating Intelligence

OSINT and Ethics: Navigating the Challenges of Responsible Intelligence Gathering

OSINT Terminology Basics

OSINT Infographic – tips for successful online research

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The Intelligence Cycle: Transforming OSINT into Actionable Intelligence

Breaking Down the Intelligence Cycle

Defining OSINT in CTI

Developing an Action Plan Based on OSINT Findings

How OSINT Played a Role in the Attack

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

Final Thoughts

How to turn open-source intelligence into actionable cybersecurity insights

What we will cover:

Understanding DDoSIA and Its Attack Infrastructure

How DDoSIA Operates

Analysis, Evaluation, and Recommendations

1. Top Targeted Countries

2. Top Victim IPs and Their DDoS Mitigation Status

3. Top Attack Methods and Vectors

Recommendations

Conclusion

Strategic Recommendations

Final Thoughts

How SOS Intelligence Empowers You to Analyse and Mitigate DDoSIA Threats

Turning Intelligence into Action

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What Security Professionals Need to Know

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