Dear reader,

Welcome to the first issue of the Practical OSINT Newsletter. It is designed to teach practical skills while keeping you up-to-date with the latest developments in the OSINT community. This issue covers four skills: researching individuals, geolocation, verification, and the basics of blockchain investigations.

Researching individuals

Before starting the research you have to understand how to set up and use virtual machines (VMs) for Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) investigations. Read the following guide to strengthen your OPSEC (Operational Security) skills.

15 Essential Steps to Set Up and Use Virtual Machines for OSINT: A Comprehensive Guide (Part 1) - OSINTIA

Hey there, fellow digital explorer! If you’re dipping your toes

OSINTIAAndy

15 Essential Steps to Set Up and Use Virtual Machines for OSINT: A Comprehensive Guide (Part 2) - OSINTIA

Hey everyone, it Andy again. Following on from my

OSINTIAAndy

Easily find people by their phone number using a range of tools, including advanced search queries (Google Dorks), phone number tools, breached databases, and more.

OSINT phone numbers like a pro. Best tools and methods revealed.

The ultimate guide to phone number investigations. Learn to professionally search and obtain personal information from any number.

OSINT Team - Learn OSINT from expertsPetro Cherkasets

Geolocation and verification

Geolocation can be tricky, as you have to know what clues to look for in the image. The following article by Steve Williams describes how to study the landscape, and understand license plates. Moreover, Steve teaches how to narrow down your search and get answers quicker following the process of elimination.

You want to geolocate an image? A guide on how to.

Sometimes you may see an image and you want to know where it was taken. This guide teaches you the basics on how to go about it

OSINT Team - Learn OSINT from expertsSteve Williams

Take your practice further by determining when the image was taken. In this video, Benjamin Strick describes how to geolocate an image and answers when the photo was captured. Benjamin meticulously studies shadows using Google Earth Pro and Suncalc.

AI-generated images are becoming increasingly sophisticated, rendering traditional detection methods, such as identifying poorly drawn hands or misspelled words, obsolete. Because the quality of images is impressively good – many can't tell if those images are real. Even though the technology is growing rapidly, you can still train your eyes to spot fakes.

AI images detection. A practical guide.

Let’s face it, AI images are becoming perfect as time goes by and many people are being fooled by them. Markers like poorly drawn hands, non ability to draw straight lines or spelling of words aren’t an issue for latest LLMs and as improvement goes on, these markers have become obsolete.

OSINT Team - Learn OSINT from expertsSteve Williams

The next article is about video verification. Nina Maelainine explained how to set up the right tools and seamlessly proceed with your verification process. From geolocation to verifying video authenticity – Nina covered it all step-by-step.

Step-by-Step OSINT Roadmap for Investigating Videos

I still remember the first time I was asked to analyze a suspicious video. The footage had gone viral, sparking intense debates online, but…

OSINT TeamNina Maelainine

Blockchain basics

Technology is moving forward, and as an investigator, you must understand the basics of blockchain. Rahul Singh explains blockchain concepts in simple terms.

Understanding The Concepts Of Blockchain

Learn how blockchain enhances transparency and security across distributed nodes. Explore the role of miners and how they maintain network integrity.

OSINT Team - Learn OSINT from expertsRahul Singh

Continue your learning by studying blockchain transactions. This article by Rahul will help you grasp the basics before delving into the complexities of investigations.

Double Spending of Cryptocurrency

Learn how double spending is avoided in cryptocurrency through transaction confirmations and UTXOs. Discover how these mechanisms ensure secure and unique transactions.

OSINT Team - Learn OSINT from expertsRahul Singh

We hope you enjoyed the first issue. You are always welcome to send us your feedback and suggestions. Expect the second issue next month. Thanks for reading!