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...
It’s time for our quarterly OSINT product updates where we bring everyone up to speed on what we’ve added to our functionality over the last few months. And so far, the first quarter of 2024 has been hugely productive, seeing us introduce some major new features connected to...
It’s a facet of the digital age, an exponentially expanding market, and an essential discipline spanning various sectors, but what exactly is OSINT? Answering this seemingly simple question is not actually that straightforward. And with a lot of people having different questions concerning the topic, we wanted to devote...
Today, it’s perhaps common knowledge that a large proportion of nefarious online activities are taking place on the Dark Web. So, for investigators, this is a domain of the datasphere which deserves a lot of attention. The trouble is, darknet platforms often require authentication to be viewed and gathering...
Welcome to our July Digest! It’s a familiar adage that shrewd scammers are always one step ahead of the law. And it’s certainly true that criminals are constantly searching for ever more sophisticated methods and new technologies in their attempts to steal money and cover their tracks. For...
We’re stoked to be taking part in the upcoming Annual Conference for i2 Users organized by Social Links’ partner in Mexico: Cuatro Networks. The event will be held on August 3, at the Hotel Marquis Reforma, Mexico City. About the Event Cuatro Networks i2 is an annual one-day summit,...
The rise of the internet as a force for communication, information and leisure has naturally seen a boost in its use regarding criminality. Those involved in illegal activities will use whatever sources they can find to continue operating unlawfully, and that’s the sad truth. Over the last few years,...
It’s usually better to learn something through practice than in theory. And this is why we decided to devote our next webinar to one specific case, where we demonstrate how OSINT tools were crucial to the success of an investigation into international money laundering. Join us on Friday, 22...
