The Tao of Open Source Intelligence

What is OSINT and what can it do for you?

The Internet has become the defining medium for information exchange in the modern world, but much of it isn’t indexed by search engines. Open source intelligence (OSINT) – intelligence gathered from publically available sources – is the key to unlocking this domain for the purposes of investigation.

The Tao of Open Source Cyber Intelligence provides a comprehensive guide to OSINT techniques for the investigator:

• It catalogues and explains the tools and investigative approaches that are required when conducting research within the surface, deep and dark webs.
• It explains how to scrutinise criminal activity without compromising your anonymity – and your investigation.
• It examines the relevance of cyber geography and how to get round its limitations.
• It describes useful add-ons for common search engines, as well as considering Metasearch engines (including Dogpile, Zuula, PolyMeta, iSeek, Cluuz, and Carrot2) that collate search data from single-source intelligence sources such as google.
• It details such search concepts as concept mapping, Entity Extraction tools, and specialist search syntax (also known as google Kung-Fu).
• It gives comprehensive guidance on Internet security for the smart investigator, and how to strike a balance between security, ease of use and functionality, providing tips on counterintelligence and safe practices, and debunking myths about online privacy.

The Tao of Open Source Cyber Intelligence is your guide to the cutting edge of this information collection capability.

Stewart K. Bertram is a career intelligence analyst who has spent over a decade working across the fields of counterterrorism, cyber security, corporate investigations and geopolitical analysis. The holder of a Master’s degree in Computing and a Master of Letters in Terrorism studies, he is uniquely placed at the cutting edge of intelligence and investigation, where technology and established tradecraft combine. Stewart teaches courses on open source intelligence as well as practising what he preaches in his role as a cyber threat intelligence manager for some of the world’s leading private-sector intelligence and security agencies.

Stewart K. Bertram is a career intelligence analyst who has spent over a decade working across the fields of counterterrorism, cyber security , corporate investigations and geopolitical analysis. The holder of a master’s degree in computing and a master of letters in terrorism studies, Stewart is uniquely placed at the cutting edge of intelligence and investigation, where technology and established tradecraft combine. Stewart fuses his academic knowledge with significant professional experience, having used open source intelligence on such diverse real-world topics as the terrorist use of social media in Sub-Saharan Africa and threat assessment at the London Olympic Games. Stewart teaches courses on open source intelligence as well as practising what he preaches in his role as a cyber threat intelligence manager for some of the world’s leading private-sector intelligence and security agencies.