How OSINT is used in security
OSINT stands for open-source intelligence. The OSINT tools are used in the investigation phase to collect information about their possible target. The OSINT tools use artificial intelligence features to find sensitive data around the web.
The tactics used for OSINT spycraft can be used for cybersecurity. Large companies are using public-facing infrastructure to span networks, technologies, hosting services and namespace. The data are stored on employee desktops, in legacy on-prem servers, employee-owned BYOD devices, in the cloud, and insides devices like webcams. The companies also own and control several assets indirectly, like social media accounts that keep the firm in vulnerability.
Using the right OSNIT tool helps a firm to improve its cybersecurity. It helps a firm to gather information about their own company, employees, IT assets, sensitive and confidential data that can be exploited by a cybercriminal anytime. It helps a firm to gather information, hid or remove it before any criminals get into it.
The OSNIT tools are performing three functions though each one tends to concentrate in specific areas.
- Discovering public-facing assets
The common function of the OSNIT tool is helping the IT team discover public-facing assets and mapping what information each asset processes that can lead to potential attacks. It performs recording what information someone could find about you and your assets without resorting to hacking.
- Discover relevant information outside the organization
OSINT tools also look for relevant information outside of an organization, such as in social media posts and locations that might be outside of a defined network. Larger firms that are going through acquisitions, have lots of assets and merging find this tool very useful.
- Collate discovered information into actionable form
OSINT tools perform collating and grouping the discovered information into useful and actionable intelligence. A larger firm finds the OSNIT scan more useful as it helps in yielding thousands of results about internal and external assets. Gathering the data help a firm to deal with serious problems.
There are various OSNIT tools that firms can use to find out sensitive data that is available publicly. Some of the top OSNIT tools that are highly recommended by different cybersecurity experts are Maltego, Recon-ng, the harvester, Shodan, Metagoofil, and search code. These tools are very useful for larger firms.
