Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is a term used in the fields of cybercrime and cybersecurity, as well as Big Data and Smart Data. It refers to the collection and evaluation of publicly accessible information on the internet.
This is not secret or protected data, but rather information that is freely available online, for example on websites, in social media, forums or online databases. Companies, authorities and private individuals use Open Source Intelligence to identify risks early, protect themselves from threats or learn more about their target audience.
A simple example: A company wants to check if confidential company data has accidentally leaked onto the internet. It uses OSINT tools to search public pages and social media for mentions or leaks. Or in the realm of Big Data: Market researchers use OSINT to analyse public opinions and trends in order to better align products with customer needs.
Open Source Intelligence is legal as long as no protected data is spied upon. It is a valuable tool for filtering out important information from the flood of freely accessible data and using it in a targeted manner.
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