Are you into Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)?  Have you ever found yourself eager to obtain satellite imagery of a specific area, only to hit a wall of clouds? As an OSINT analyst with extensive experience in open-source geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) resources, I’ve encountered this situation more times than I can count.  Having worked on projects related to both the Middle East and Russia, I can attest that pesky clouds rarely interfere with satellite views of Syria, Iraq, or Yemen.  The views in these regions are typically unobstructed, crisp, and naturally contrasting, th ..read more

Did you know that Europol is an Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) powerhouse?  Europol is not only one of the organizations where OSINT skills are very relevant and valuable, but it’s also at the forefront of fostering collaboration with OSINT sleuths from the public.   Just recently, Europol and ENFAST launched their annual #EUMostWanted campaign, putting out a call to the public for tips pertaining to their Most Wanted List. So why not take a few seconds to scroll through the rogues’ gallery and see if you recognize any of these baddies? Your tip could be the missing link that ..read more

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) in Germany is about to get bolstered thanks to the return of Google Street View. Geolocation and visual investigations overall will get turbocharged as Google Street View is resurfacing in Deutschland. For over a decade, Google Maps’ Street View has been transforming the way we explore – and investigate – the world. However, not all nations have embraced this technology with open arms. Germany immediately comes to mind, where privacy concerns and legal battles resulted in Google halting its Street View rollout back in 2011. In the early years of Street View, Ge ..read more

This blog post was based on research and analysis conducted as part of the final assignment for the bespoke Knowmad OSINT training for the International Masters in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies (IMSISS) offered by the University of Glasgow, Dublin City University, Charles University, and Trento University. Disclaimer: viewer discretion is advised Increased online chatter indicates attack in Karma At the end of April 2023, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) analysts noted an uptick in chatter regarding a potential massacre in Burkina Faso, with reports circulating that unarmed civ ..read more

ChatGPT offers an excellent first look at how AI can aid some aspects of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and intelligence analysis.  Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is the process of gathering information from publicly available sources to support decision-making and risk management. With the rise of the internet and the abundance of information available online, OSINT has become an essential tool for organizations and individuals alike. In this digital age, being able to efficiently collect, analyze, and use information is critical to staying informed and making informed decisions. Thi ..read more

Jingle bells. Frosty the Snowman. Baked cookies. The festive season is arguably the best time of the year, especially for kids! So that’s why I’ll highlight Santa Tracker for this blog entry.  Santa Tracker is exactly what it sounds like: a live tracker of Santa’s position while conducting his global present-delivery operations. It can be accessed via the website or through Android and iOS apps.  Santa Tracker displays a 3D model of Santa’s sleight as it moves across the Earth. The user interface shows a live present count as well as Santa’s last sighting and next destinati ..read more

In this blog entry, I’d like to talk about the often-overlooked FIRMS as an OSINT tool for monitoring active warzones. Created by NASA, the Fire Information Resource Management System (FIRMS) is definitely not getting the popularity it deserves – this is our attempt to spread some awareness.  Using satellites to detect and display heat flashes within 3 hours of observation, FIRMS adds a new layer of “near-real-time (NRT)” situational awareness. Four satellites equipped with specialized sensors work around the clock to map out signs of active fires. Once identified, the “hotspots” are disp ..read more

Russia’s missile strike on Retroville Mall might have been triggered by a video shared online by a random guy from Kyiv, a Ukrainian military investigation found. The image shared on social media might have revealed the presence of Ukrainian military vehicles at the Mall.  The Russian MoD posted a video showing that Ukraine was storing MLRS at the mall in Kyiv that was struck last night. Also notable that Russian Orlan-10 UAVs can operate over Kyiv. https://t.co/c0hLS31sLy pic.twitter.com/z7lfUs8fW3 — Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 21, 2022 Aftermath of the attack in Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/cJ ..read more

Over 150,000 Russian forces have encircled Ukraine in the past months. Thanks to Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), the world is watching.  Everything we know about the units and hardware positioned along Russia’s and Belarus’ frontier with Ukraine is due to satellite imagery, social media, flight and vessel trackers, railcar registries, and other open-source resources. If, and when, Russia further invades Ukraine, OSINTers will learn almost immediately. You can also stay on top of the situation with this brief pocket guide on using OSINT for monitoring the accumulation of Russian troops a ..read more

Amid the Afghan government’s collapse and subsequent Taliban takeover of Kabul, it was a race against time for the U.S. and NATO allies to evacuate their citizens, and Afghans at risk, out of the country. The result? Over 120,000 civilians were extracted in nearly two weeks, making it the largest airlift operation ever recorded. For many reasons, the Afghan airlift was a historic and dramatic event, and thanks to Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), we were able to follow the evacuation as it unfolded.  Here’s our TOP FIVE tools used to monitor the Afghan airlift.  5. TRADITIONAL NEWS ..read more