From Newspapers to Wikis: The Ultimate Guide to Open Source Intelligence

OSINT: Publicly Available Information Can Enhance Your Investigations and Research

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is a discipline that allows for overt acquisition of information from public sources. For writers, researchers, and Intelligence Community (IC) employees alike, OSINT research can provide reliable facts and credible evidence from trustworthy sources.

     OSINT data can support covert collection priorities, making them easier and less expensive to carry out. It can also empower CIA case officers by quickly enlightening them of the shifting cultural, economic, military, political, and social nuances in unstable foreign regions, and allowing them to verify a foreign asset’s candor and form the right questions to ask.

     The CIA utilized OSINT in the 2011 operation to locate and kill Osama bin Laden. The agency used a variety of intelligence sources, including OSINT, to track bin Laden's courier and ultimately locate his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The operation was successful in eliminating bin Laden, and OSINT played a significant role in its planning and execution.

     The CIA also used OSINT in its search for Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003. CIA analysts utilized various sources of open-source intelligence, including satellite imagery, local newspapers, and radio broadcasts, to gather information on Hussein's whereabouts. This information was then used to plan targeted operations and raids, ultimately leading to the capture of Hussein in December of 2003.

     Well, you don't have to be a secret agent to benefit from OSINT! Whether you're a journalist, a writer, or just a curious researcher, OSINT can be your trusty sidekick. Want to uncover some juicy details about a celebrity scandal? Check out their social media profiles and dig through public records. Need to write a convincing argument for your next op-ed piece? Use OSINT to gather reliable facts and evidence. And if you're just looking to satisfy your inner detective, OSINT can help you solve mysteries that even Sherlock Holmes would be impressed by. So don't be afraid to embrace your inner spy and start using OSINT today- here’s 17 open sources that can help you get started: 

Domestic & foreign newspapers provide current events, politics, culture, and society. 

Professional journals offer specialized and academic information. 

Pertinent magazines can provide industry and field-specific information. 

Domestic & foreign radio stations offer news, talk shows, and other programs. 

Domestic & foreign television provides news broadcasts, documentaries, and other programs. 

Newspaper forums allow readers to provide commentary on various topics. 

Wikis can provide collaborative information on various topics. 

P2P sharing can provide access to shared files, documents, and other resources. 

Blogosphere provides access to personal blogs that cover various topics. 

Blackberries provide access to personal and business-related information. 

MySpace provides access to personal profiles and other related information. 

Wikipedia provides free access to general and specialized knowledge. 

deli.icio.us provides access to shared bookmarks and tags. 

Amazon.com provides access to books, reviews, and other resources. 

Relevant contracts awarded can provide insights into government procurement and other business-related information. 

Professional conferences & seminars provide access to industry experts and field-specific information. 

Academic papers provide access to research studies and academic knowledge.

   Interestingly, in the ‘COREY PEARSON- CIA SPYMASTER’ spy thriller series, Corey Pearson and his counterintelligence team rely on OSINT to gather information from public sources and support their covert collection priorities.

     They use open-source sources like newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, wikis, blogs, professional associations, academic papers, and more. By applying their OSINT skills, Corey and his team stay ahead of the game and are able to verify the candor of foreign assets, anticipate shifts in geopolitical matters, and form reasoned conclusions that help them complete their often-dangerous missions smoothly.

     OSINT is an important tool for intelligence professionals and is considered “the source of first resort” for the IC. By using OSINT, intelligence agencies can gain a better understanding of foreign cultures and religions of both friends and enemies, as well as pay closer attention to what the rest of the world is saying about America. OSINT research can help support the IC’s mission and ultimately provide a better understanding of the world we live in. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.