Thread by @AllForOsint

Hey #OSINT 🕵️‍♀️ Just saw some post within the community talking about the difference between 'Open Source Information' and 'Open Source Intelligence' 🤠 which I believe could be flawed and subjective. Here's why? 👇

First question - All of a sudden, what is this #OSINF

Open Source Intelligence is utilizing publicly available data for various purposes. And what should be considered as 'Intelligence' is dependent on the organization or interests. If one's a journalist or LE or spy, everyone's definition/priorities of 'Intelligence' differs.#OSINT

Usage of JARGON
Gap analysis, Pattern analysis, Strategic analysis (& N number of analysis)

Well, all these are NOT specifically related to OSINT, because there is no standard definition of OSINT. Perhaps, some international orgs have defined it based on their interests.#OSINT

That means, one(org/individual) doesn't have to go through all the process which is specified by some XYZ authority. So 'experts' use WHAT WORKS to gather information. Information gathering happens as per the requirement and articles are written based on the interests. #OSINT

Because there is too much information or INTELLIGENCE in the world that cannot fit into a single container. Does the public who does OSINT work, (that is, you 😍) always take the approach of CONE OF PLAUSIBILITY (Jargon)? Necessarily not! Why? One doesn't require that always.

Don't believe me? I've worked with a reputed international org without doing all that, I noted down things that I found on Google and some custom CLI tools on my notepad. Still don't believe me that one could gather intelligence without jargon? I knew you guys, so here you go 😉

If you follow @TraceLabs you already know they conduct search party and the public/researchers/enthusiasts/hobbyists and all kind of people participate to gather INTELLIGENCE or wait is it INFORMATION? Euphemism issues. Bottom line, they are all helping LE.

Not very recently, Cody Bernardy's team won MVO (Most Valuable OSINT) badge on Tracelabs, they were able to DISCOVER the INFORMATION/INTELLIGENCE just digging deep into a social media profile, oh well, why didn't she do link analysis 🤔 & make a template -

Not only that, there are hundreds of volunteers around the world who DOESN'T go through the JARGON process. They are all just people who have spent some good amount of time on the internet, or they know how to GOOGLE stuff and learn. #OSINT
Watch here -

https://twitter.com/AllForOsint/status/1572358694058496002?s=20&t=HYL9LmZVieEFNsXLf7TM-g

Now coming back to the first question - What's #OSINF
Well, that could be a subjective definition or pride someone could take by coining the term. Not absolute. OSINT can be put into many boxes as per the requirement. Personally, I feel like it should be called as PAINT. #OSINT

Publicly Available Intelligence (PAINT), well, that's my opinion (to have interesting convo about that join our Discord😄). Well, LE/journos/spies in that matter also use the phrase like - "We got the INFO(RMATION) about..." Intel/Intelligence also works 😀 #OSINT

Let's talk about the #OSINT Mindset. Well, again, it's all subjective and works differently for different people. Generally, one has to be "logical/rational/neutral/unbiased/<fill your adjectives>" & all that, it depends on one's world knowledge. Watch -

Social psychology is subjective. Who decides how "logical/rational/.." are you at a certain point in time? Only you can, it comes by experience and reading a lot of psychology books. The reality is, some you can identify yourself & some you can't. #OSINT #OSINF

OSINT vs Doxxing
This is one of the questions that I often get from my friends within and outside the community.

It depends on the perspective. If you think that, OSINTing (includes pinpointing) some socially unacceptable terrorist and if someone's interested in that info..

..then you are a hero/heroine. But no one could know that if you are using that skill to stalk/dox/osint against your ex. That depends on your ethics or morality. More than that, your political views, world view and school of thought matters. #OSINT #OSINF

Bottom line, OSINT or OSINF is the game of INFORMATION. How well one could project the information to the public and who's backing that is what's happening today. ANALYSIS and THINKING LOGICALLY is something that humans have intrinsically(conditions apply).

Because one doesn't look up something on the Internet or do DATA ANALYSIS without INTENTION 😉 Whether it's looking up some information on someone or chasing a bomber, at the end it's all about the INFORMATION and INTENTIONS. 🥸

I hope you'll be ethical/moral in your own ways,based on your circumstances.Anyone can #OSINT & #OSINF or whatever.Anyone and everyone is welcome,my job is to give you a holistic perspective and educate you about the Internet,hope I just did that

Visit - osintforall.in