Blog

Human intelligence is powerful, but incomplete without digital validation. Based on real-world investigations, this blog explores why HUMINT operators, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies must embed OSINT to verify assets, expose hidden online behaviors, prevent deception, and generate trustworthy intelligence in a hybrid, global threat landscape.

Breaking into the OSINT field can feel overwhelming, whether you want to become an analyst, investigator, developer, or instructor. The path is clearer once you understand key roles, essential skills, and how to position yourself. With the right training, networking, and a targeted resume, applying for an OSINT job becomes far easie

You’ve got mountains of data at your fingertips. But how do you turn that raw chaos into sharp, actionable intelligence? That’s where data analysis for OSINT comes in. It’s not just a buzzword or a fancy tool. It's the secret weapon that transforms scattered bits of information into a clear, strategic advantage. If you’re serious about cracking cases, tracking threats, or securing cyberspace, mastering this skill is non-negotiable.

Intelligence reports turn raw OSINT data into actionable insight. After two decades in the field, one lesson stands out: collection means nothing without clear communication. The real value lies in analysis, connecting patterns, interpreting meaning, and shaping evidence into a coherent narrative. Effective reports guide decision-makers with clarity, structure, and purpose, tailored to the audience’s needs.

The biggest threat in OSINT isn’t lack of data. It’s ego. The moment you think you understand the dataset, you stop learning from it. The moment you think you can’t be surprised, you stop being useful. Black Swans don’t hide, they just look irrelevant until they change everything. Your dashboard doesn’t need more data. It needs more doubt.

Explore the future of OSINT with AI as we delve into the next two decades of advancements. Discover how OSINT and AI will redefine tradecraft.

Walk through an old temple in Luxor or Karnak, and you’re surrounded by symbols that once carried life-and-death meaning. Hieroglyphics...

A field rant about shortcuts, ego, and other creative ways to waste everyone’s time Let’s just say the quiet part out loud: most of...

This isn’t a rant against AI. I use it daily, ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Gemini. They’re in my workflow like everyone else’s. But the tradecraft is slipping. Analysts are skipping the hard parts. They’re trusting GenAI to do the heavy cognitive lifting, and it’s changing how we operate at a foundational level.

Often I get the question: Hey Nico, do you know any good geolocation or mapping sources that are not so well known? Mapping tools are...

Finding valuable information within OSINT investigations often requires looking beyond the surface. Social media, blogs, and forums are...

Image by Mary Rabun Most true ‘OSINTians’ are members of a small group who go public. They go public on their skills, knowledge and...

OSINT is about focusing on possibilities. But sometimes we get stuck or things we planned simply didn’t work as planned. We all know when...

In this second blog in the Cryptography & OSINT series we are going to take a closer look at world of emojis

Using audio for open-source intelligence analysis Introduction Open-source intelligence analysis often heavily relies on video analysis....

FOR THIS BLOG I WANT TO DISCUSS WHY OPEN-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATIONS DON’T LIKE YOUR FEELINGS. YES YOUR FEELINGS ARE IRRELEVANT TO...