Open-Source & Social Media Intelligence (OSINT & SOCMINT)

This Open-Source & Social Media Intelligence (OSINT & SOCMINT) course will cover these main topics:

• What is Open Source & Social Media Intelligence – Overview of methods, definitions and descriptive on how and when best to use.  
• OSINT Infrastructure – What hardware, software, security, and connections does an investigator require. How to protect the researcher. 
• Legislation – Key legislation to consider when conducting research.
• Challenges conducting UK OSINT – What challenges an investigator may face.  
• Mobile Emulation – Explanation around what options we can you use for mobile emulation.  
• Online Investigation – Key considerations from the start, how to design a strategy.  
• Web Browsers – Explanation, what are the options and difference benefits. 
• Search Engines – Explanation of using multiple search engines for research. 
• Research techniques (manual & automated) – Examples of research techniques, Boolean searching and advanced online searching. 
• Online Forums - Overview of forum searching.  
• Social Networks – Focusses on the current and trending social media applications and how we obtain data. For example, Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok etc. 
• Online False Identities (OFI) – How to create OFI’s and the management of them.  
• Email Investigation – How to conduct email investigations. 
• Username Investigation – Search usernames across surface web and links to profiles. 
• Email Data Breach Techniques – How to identify email data breaches and how we use this information in an investigation. 
• People Searching – Examples of people searching techniques. 
• Telephone numbers in investigations – Methods where we can use telephone numbers to gain intelligence. 
• Company Investigation – What company information can we achieve from OSINT.  
• Geo Locations and Mapping Tools – Wearable’s review & obtaining location-based information and how to present it. 
• Document Searching – Methods on how to conduct document searching. 
• EXIF / Meta Data Review – How to review EXIF and Meta Data.  
• Reverse Image Searching – Reverse searching of images on the internet and tools, add-ons that can assist. 
• Images Analysis – Further image analysis techniques and considerations. 
• Videos, YouTube & Live Streaming – Video capture techniques, Risks this can pose and explanation. 
• Domain Name Investigation – Descriptive of what information we can achieve.  
• IP Address Investigation – Geo locate IP address information and its limitations. 
• Wi-Fi Analysis – Wi-Fi investigation methods.  
• Government Databases – Other data bases that can help, support our research.  
• Cryptocurrency – General overview and basic awareness session. 
• Software Requirements – Software solutions are looked at more in depth. Risks and evidential Capture.  
• Evidential Capture – What products do we need to provide clients (Specific on area). 
• Documentation and Reporting – How we best present our research. 

As this is a dynamic subject area some topics may be added/removed with current trends. 

Legislation and Guidelines 

• Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Principles
• Computer Misuse Act 
• Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA) 
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Regulatory of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) & Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)