Blog: 03.08.24

Open-source Intelligence for Modern Analysts

Reading time: 4 minutes

How much time do you spend online every day? How many of your day-to-day interactions occur online, and how many of your records and other information are stored online?

The answer, when you take a minute to think about it, is often surprising even to the eternally online. We would be lost without the internet and the connectivity it provides us. That same connectivity drives modern culture and politics, connects people globally, drives our businesses, and more. There are few parts of our lives that aren’t at least partially digitized nowadays, and that digitization has led to the rebirth of open-source intelligence as an “INT of first resort.”

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) started with humble roots: reading newspapers, listening to radio broadcasts, and gleaning insights from other public forms of information. The advent of the internet, and shortly thereafter social media, has led to an explosion in OSINT at an unprecedented scale in the intelligence profession.

Open Source Intelligence for Modern Analysts

Let’s first define what we’re talking about. Unlike other collection disciplines, OSINT casts a wide net, encompassing anything and everything that is publicly available under reasonable limitations, including commercially available data.

This broad scope makes OSINT a valuable resource for analysts seeking insights from a variety of sources and with limited means, needing quite literally only an internet connection and a keyboard.

Understanding Open Sources

Open sources span a diverse array of mediums, ranging from traditional sources like radio, newspapers, and books to modern platforms such as social media, websites, forums, and even video games.

Public databases, records, and public activities like speeches also contribute to the wealth of open-source information available to analysts. The vastness of open sources provides analysts with a rich tapestry of data to draw insights from.

While many of these were available pre-internet, the internet has made them more accessible than ever, including those based in far-flung locations or with other limitations to access.

OSINT vs Closed Sources

While closed sources like SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and HUMINT (Human Intelligence) play critical roles in the gathering of highly-targeted, “exquisite” intelligence, OSINT offers unique advantages. It enables other disciplines by providing broad context to then enable specific, quality targeting for high-cost collection methods. OSINT also can provide general context on complex, broad situations in ways that targeted collection can’t.

Despite its potential, OSINT remains underutilized compared to other disciplines. Industry platforms and vendors are still working to develop tools and platforms to enable analysts to utilize OSINT for broad collection and analysis alongside targeted investigations.

One of the key strengths of OSINT lies in its ability to provide insights into individuals and entities through publicly available data. From breached data and social media posts to online connections and patterns of life, OSINT can uncover a wealth of information that would otherwise require significant resources to obtain through SIGINT or HUMINT.

Think about it for a second: you may have much critical and relevant information that you share with your friends, family and colleagues over the phone, via text and email and so on, but where do you store comprehensive lists of your interest, friends, photos and more? Online and on social media in ways that are easily accessible via OSINT.

Leveraging OSINT's Upsides

OSINT offers several advantages that make it an invaluable asset for analysts. It enables proactive intelligence gathering, allowing analysts to stay ahead of emerging threats. Moreover, with global activities increasingly digital, OSINT provides a means to research and monitor activities worldwide.

Additionally, OSINT is relatively cost-effective compared to other intelligence disciplines and carries a low risk of exposure or attribution. However, like any intelligence gathering method, OSINT is not without its challenges.

Analysts must contend with the abundance of information available, requiring careful verification and cross-referencing. Furthermore, access to certain data via social media platforms may become increasingly restricted over time.

In conclusion, Open Source Intelligence presents a wealth of opportunities for modern analysts. By harnessing the vast array of publicly available data, analysts can uncover valuable insights, enhance their investigations, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape of intelligence gathering.

Intrigued by the potential of OSINT? Stay tuned to learn more about how Falkor can enhance your OSINT operations and take your intelligence gathering to the next level.