Open-Source Intelligence
The open-source intelligence (OSINT) method allows required information to be delivered as highly relevant research results that can easily be validated and transformed into high-quality intelligence. The idea behind gathering OSINT originated in the military, but it was found to be of great value in the civilian domain as well. OSINT is broadly defined as using established intelligence tradecraft on open sources of information. Open sources range from foreign language translation to exploitation/analysis of multiple, independent, publicly available sources of information. OSINT sources include commercial, scientific, and technical databases; symposium proceedings; published strategies and doctrine; think-tank publications; patent information; and other open-source documents available to the general public. A variety of exploitation techniques are practiced in OSINT, including monitoring social media and gathering contact information from sites such as WHOIS,...