OSINT is the acronym for Open-Source Intelligence
Before the arrival and expansion of the Internet, OSINT was limited and mundane at times. OSINT was generated mainly from printed press, TV and Radio broadcasts, and reports issued by news agencies. The common denominator for all these sources was that they were managed or controlled by entities with vested interest, such as governments, parties, organizations, broadcasting authorities, etc. The information was limited in scope and quality and obtaining it could be time-consuming, especially when sourcing from remote or inaccessible territories/regions.
OSINT on the internet
The development of the internet has transformed OSINT into a significant factor in intelligence extraction in general, and especially in competitive intelligence. Today, with proficiency in the variety of OSINT tools, we can find and process vast amounts of information from global sources and within a very short timeframe.
The expansion of social media upgraded OSINT significantly. Social networks enable us to find and understand the voice of the “invisible people / unnoticed voices”, to identify trends within communities, and to track people and entities that were considered untraceable until recently . Social networks enable us not only to locate people but also to draw and analyze their professional and social networks.
The online databases have advanced OSINT significantly. Nowadays, by subscribing to the correct databases, whether free or paid, we can not only locate executives all around the world but also obtain their personal and professional contact details, such as mobile and landline phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and places of residence.
OSINT and AI
The New Sheriff in Town as far as OSINT is concerned is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI opens a whole new world of OSINT. It enabled OSINT professionals to become familiar with new sources and new strategies, and AI helps them to shed light on the most problematic realm of knowledge – the Unknowns.
