OSINT Investigation Guide
Open-source intelligence, or OSINT, is research using information that is lawfully available to the researcher. Effective OSINT is less about finding the largest amount of information and more about asking precise questions, evaluating sources and preserving evidence in a way that can be reviewed later.
Define the research question
Start with a specific objective. Define the subject, geography, time period, decision the research will support and the evidence that would materially change that decision. This prevents open-ended searching from becoming an unstructured collection exercise.
Use source tiers
Primary or official sources can be particularly valuable for registrations, filings, planning records and published notices. Reputable secondary sources can add context. Social and directory sources can help discover leads, but should be treated according to their reliability and freshness.
Capture provenance
Record the source URL, observation date, relevant excerpt or document reference and the claim supported. For dynamic pages, preserve enough context to explain what was observed because public information can change.
Corroborate important claims
A single search result is rarely enough for a material conclusion. Look for independent confirmation, check conflicting evidence and record unresolved discrepancies rather than silently choosing the most convenient result.
Respect boundaries
OSINT should use lawful public information and respect access controls, privacy expectations and applicable law. It should not involve credential abuse, private-account harvesting, security bypasses or fabricated identities.