PART 1: Visit
How to Actually Use It Without Becoming That Creepy Guy From Netflix Documentaries
So now you know the basics of OSINT: it’s like detective work, except your magnifying glass is Google and your Watson is Wi-Fi. But you might be asking:
👉 “Okay cool, but how do I actually start doing OSINT without ending up on some watchlist?”
Don’t worry—I’ve got you. Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Start Small (No Need for a Batcave)
Forget fancy spy tools. Your OSINT starter pack is literally:
- Google (yes, even Google Dorks if you’re feeling fancy).
- Google Maps / Street View.
- Wayback Machine (to time-travel through websites).
- Social media search bars.
Think of it like Pokémon: you don’t start with Mewtwo—you start with Pikachu. ⚡
Meme drop: “Mom: Stop stalking random people. Me: It’s not stalking, it’s OSINT.”
Step 2: Learn the Art of Asking Google Weird Things
Google isn’t just for “pizza near me.” With a few tricks, you can find stuff most people miss:
- site:linkedin.com (search only LinkedIn)
- filetype:pdf (find PDFs only—like hidden reports)
- “quotes” (search exact phrases)
Basically, you’ll start typing like a robot, but trust me—it works.
Meme drop: “Normal people Google: cat videos. Me Googling: ‘site:.gov filetype:pdf tax fraud 2019’.”
Step 3: Verify, Verify, Verify
Here’s the golden rule: don’t believe everything you see online.
- Cross-check with multiple sources.
- Look at dates (nobody cares about a “breaking story” from 2012).
- Reverse image search photos (because sometimes that “new UFO” was actually a balloon from 2007 🎈).
Meme drop: “Me reverse image searching a UFO photo: oh look, it’s just a trash can lid.”
Step 4: Stay Safe (Because You’re Not Batman)
When you’re poking around online:
- Use a VPN. (No, not because you’re hiding from the FBI—just because it’s smart.)
- Don’t use your personal accounts for OSINT stuff.
- Don’t click shady links that scream “I’ll definitely give your laptop 37 viruses.”
Remember: with great power comes great responsibility (yes, we’re Spider-Man-ing this again).
Real-World OSINT in Action
So why bother? Here’s how people use OSINT every day:
- Journalists: verifying if that “viral video” really happened where it claims.
- Cybersecurity pros: checking if your company passwords leaked online.
- Humanitarian workers: spotting disaster zones using satellite maps.
- Normal folks: finding out if that Craigslist seller is actually real or just catfishing you.
Meme drop: “Me: I’ll just check this seller’s name real quick. Also me 20 minutes later: found their wedding photos, high school mascot, and dog’s birthday.”
The Future of OSINT
Tech keeps evolving, which means OSINT is about to get even wilder:
- AI will sift through the chaos so you don’t have to scroll 300 tweets manually.
- More open data will mean more transparency (and more rabbit holes).
- OSINT might become as normal as Googling someone before a date (don’t pretend you haven’t done it).
Final Words
OSINT isn’t about being creepy—it’s about being curious and smart with the info that’s already out there. Done right, it can help you find truth in a noisy world.
So the next time you fall down an internet rabbit hole, just tell your friends:
“I’m not procrastinating. I’m doing intelligence work.” 😎
