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Imagine you're a detective, but instead of looking for clues in the real world, you search for them on the internet and in public records. That's what Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is like. It's all about finding information from sources that anyone can access, not secret or hidden stuff.
Here are some places where this kind of information comes from:
Anything you can find by searching on the internet, like with Google
News outlets, including newspapers, TV, and radio.
Online stuff like YouTube videos, blogs, and forums where people chat.
Research papers, government reports, stuff businesses publish, and even things like academic studies.
GPS locations, like when you check in somewhere on social media.
Public records, which include things like marriage certificates, birth records, and business filings.
Posts on social media, where people share what they're doing or thinking.
Census data, which is collected by the government to learn about the population.
Websites that show computer vulnerabilities or harmful software, but are open for anyone to see to learn and protect themselves.
Even more detailed info like someone's address, hobbies, who they're friends with, and technical details about internet setups.
Parts of the internet that are less visible but still accessible, like the dark web and deep web.
Since there's so much information out there, it's impossible for just one person or even a group to look through it all. That's why there are special tools and websites designed to help sort and make sense of all this information. Some tools are free, and some you have to pay for.
When people who work in cyber security (protecting computers and internet stuff) use OSINT, they start by figuring out exactly what they need to know. This helps them decide where to look. For example, if they're trying to find out if someone is planning to attack a website or service, they might look in specific online spots where people talk about those plans.
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