The Practical OSINT Newsletter. Issue #1.
This issue covers four skills: researching individuals, geolocation, verification, and the basics of blockchain investigations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Continue your learning by studying blockchain transactions. This article by Rahul will help you grasp the basics before delving into the complexities of investigations.
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!