At the turn of the century, intelligence systems were shut away behind professional barriers—you needed a license, a security pass, and a load of costly resources just to start digging around a subject. In today’s digitized and interconnected world, techniques that were once the exclusive purview of intelligence...
The landscape of criminal investigations has undergone a fundamental transformation over the past 15 years. As criminal enterprises increasingly operate across both physical and cyber-domains, law enforcement agencies must adapt their methodologies to effectively counter these evolving threats and challenges. In this climate, open-source Intelligence (OSINT) has emerged as a...
While there are a number of great learning resources online, when it comes to structured and comprehensive ways to deepen your knowledge in a given area, it’s difficult to beat a good old book—especially in the vast and at times bewildering discipline of OSINT. But when there are...
In the current era of hyperconnectivity, the digital footprints left by individuals and organizations are a critical intelligence source for security professionals. As publicly available data has swelled and evolved, social media intelligence (SOCMINT) has emerged as a go-to discipline for transforming vast amounts of raw data into actionable intelligene....
OSINT investigations are a lot like unraveling a web. Investigators pull on different threads to reveal the bigger picture. But this process isn’t one-sided. Just as investigators gather data on their targets, those suspects can also acquire information on them—if they’re not careful. And in the world...
In today's digital landscape, the open-source data API has become an indispensable tool in helping developers, product teams, and analysts build effective, data-driven products and processes. By providing access to a wide range of data types from open sources, such APIs can simplify the development process and add...
Every dataset tells a story—but one that’s often incomplete. While a powerful resource, raw data can only take us so far before the blind spots start showing. Whether it’s tracking cyber threats, streamlining hiring processes, or verifying identities, organizations across the board are discovering that context is...
Social media has become a double-edged sword. While it connects billions of users worldwide, it also presents a growing risk landscape. Phishing scams, misinformation campaigns, and brand impersonation are just a few of the cyber threats that thrive on social platforms. Yet the same data that makes social media a...
At a time when our lives are becoming ever more integrated with the online realm, dating apps have become a new norm. And their stellar rise in popularity is hardly to be wondered at. After all, a lot of people simply don’t have large enough social circles—or a...
The corporate world is well aware of the manifold risks that M&A and other investment deals can pose. This is reflected in the immense growth of the commercial due diligence market, which currently has an astonishing growth rate of 9.5% and is set to hit a volume...
API solutions are indispensable for various intelligence platforms and investigations. The seamless operability that comes with API integration means that all kinds of workflows and processes can be streamlined, collaboration becomes natural and effortless, many routine tasks just vanish, and the productivity of the whole organization soars. Our new article...
In today’s climate, background checks have become a staple of verification, and open-source intelligence has risen to the fore as an indispensable element of this widespread practice. Anyone who’s applied for a job may be aware of basic screening checks. But, in fact, the world of background checks...
To the uninitiated, background checks may appear to be straightforward things. But the truth is they come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the basic checks employers might run off from a CV to profoundly enhanced checks reaching into the recesses of the Dark Web for more serious matters....
Intelligence work is a multifaceted thing. To anyone acquainted with the field, this will be obvious from the many -INT terms that seek to categorize the various sides of the discipline. And this article is all about one of these in particular—HUMINT (Human Intelligence)—and the tools out there...
It’s a pillar of the modern intelligence cycle, taken very seriously by the national security departments of leading global powers, and is entering the mainstream in various ways. But what exactly is OSINT (open-source intelligence) in 2025? The truth is that open-source intelligence encompasses a lot, but don’t...
Routine is a needed component of progressive work, but sometimes it prevents great discoveries. Hence, fresh ideas are a must-have to think outside the box and find new ways of meeting challenges (especially unexpected ones). And we brought you some. In this update, we compiled our top OSINT articles with...
The next ISS World LatAm conference is almost upon us, and Social Links is very happy to be contributing once again. It would be great to see you all at this great event, which will be taking place in Panama City, October 10–12. What We’ll Be Discussing This...
It’s digest time again! And the last quarter has certainly been an intriguing one. So, we’re here to share the stories that most caught our attention over the last three months and bring you up to speed with the latest twists and turns of the OSINT and cybersecurity...
Social media and messengers are now cornerstones of modern communication. And as such, they are also immensely rich open sources that carry a huge amount of significance for the OSINT analyst. But while these platforms offer various opportunities as research resources, they also come with their own challenges. This webinar...
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and many digital platforms, efficient investigative methods have become more crucial than ever. Within this dynamic landscape, Telegram emerges as a vital source of information due to its status as a privacy-focused messaging app with strong encryption. The platform attracts a diverse...
OSINT investigations are like intricate puzzles that require meticulous research, often leading to a maze of different paths. While discussing the theory is helpful, the real treasure lies in experiencing an actual investigation unfold. That's why, at Social Links, we create case studies. These help experts learn from...
