Is gaining access to OSINT data ‘easy’? In this blog, a Senior Tradecraft Advisor at Fivecast explores this question while highlighting some of the misconceptions around OSINT data and how to close OSINT data collection gaps by gaining access to perceived closed spaces. Even though OSINT data is generally housed in publicly available spaces, it…
In this blog, Jeff Fehmel, Fivecast Tradecraft Specialist delves into the online indicators of extremism and radicalization detectable with OSINT tools which are instrumental in counter-terrorism investigations. Extremism has a Comfortable Home Online While the societal scourge of violent extremism is not new, the speed at which individuals are radicalized is a relatively new phenomenon.…
In this blog, Fivecast Tradecraft Specialist, Jeff Fehmel takes a deep dive into 4chan, an open-source platform associated with violent extremism. An understanding of what 4chan is, how it operates, and the threats present on the site is essential to effective intelligence investigations. 4chan and 8kun (formerly 8chan) are types of imageboards. Imageboards are one…
In this blog, Andrew Hills draws on his law enforcement background to delve into the data privacy issues inherent in all forms of intelligence analysis and the regulatory and practical privacy requirements for deploying open-source intelligence (OSINT). In the wake of allegations of US intelligence agencies spying on citizens in 2013, then US President Obama…
In this blog, our experienced Tradecraft team explores how deploying OSINT for Global Situational Awareness can support government and corporations operating overseas. Government, military, corporations and not-for profits operating overseas require global situational awareness to manage and address threats to operations, troops, employees, facilities, and supply chains. Open-source data can surface threats, whether direct or…
In this blog, Senior Data Scientist, Trent Lewis looks at the foundations of AI and machine learning (ML) and how these are being developed to enhance open-source intelligence with analyst-driven AI and ML. As the name suggests, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) investigations leverage data that is openly available, most commonly from a wide variety of online…
In this blog, Matt Rossiter, Director of Tradecraft at Fivecast explores the evolving role of OSINT in relation to social media insights and key intelligence use cases. The intelligence environment has evolved over recent years, influenced by many factors, including tech-savvy threat actors, the rapid spread of online communications, increased social unrest, and changing geopolitical…
Within the context of pursuing a broad and effective open-source intelligence (OSINT) program, Gab is an essential social media platform for intelligence teams to understand and monitor. Recently, a member of our Tradecraft team did a deep dive into Gab, analyzing its origin, structure, user base, and content as well as providing some predictions about…
In this blog, a Senior Fivecast Tradecraft Advisor compares intelligence operations online and in the real world to highlight the OSINT skills gap that many intelligence officers face. We often talk about Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) being the collection of ‘publicly available’ information. That makes it sound like anyone can go out there and get it,…
Intelligence professionals need to use all resources available to progress their missions including Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) tools, an important part of OSINT, ‘Social Media Intelligence’ (SOCMINT), and Human Intelligence (HUMINT). Against a background of increased investigation complexity and rapidly changing threat environments, it is increasingly important to leverage OSINT, SOCMINT, and HUMINT holistically. Fivecast recently…
In this blog, Jeff draws on his Tradecraft expertise to examine the evolution of the 8kun social media platform favored by ideologically motivated violent extremist groups like QAnon and the role open-source intelligence (OSINT) has to play in tracking this evolution. The recent increases in violent extremist activity that have been witnessed in the US and globally have highlighted the critical need for constant monitoring of extremist threat actors and groups…
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