What is OSINT?

OSINTOSINT (Open Source Intelligence) is the collection and analysis of publicly available information — from websites, social media, DNS records, and public databases — to identify security threats or gather actionable intelligence.

OSINT Explained in Detail

Security teams use OSINT both defensively (to discover what attackers can learn about the organisation) and offensively (to map adversary infrastructure). Common OSINT sources include WHOIS data, SSL certificate transparency logs, job postings, social media profiles, and code repositories.

OSINT in Cybersecurity

  • Reconnaissance — Map external assets, subdomains, and technology stacks.
  • Threat hunting — Identify IOCs (Indicators of Compromise) from public feeds.
  • Due diligence — Assess vendor and partner security posture.

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