PIL OSINT: Practical Open Source Intelligence Techniques

Learn how to gather, verify, and analyze open-source data for investigations, research, and situational awareness using accessible tools and ethical practices.

Course Objectives

• Define open-source intelligence (OSINT) and its use in public and private investigations.
• Conduct structured data collection across social media, domains, and public records.
• Use core tools like SpiderFoot, WHOIS, Archive.org, and Google dorks effectively.
• Apply operational security (OpSec) principles to protect the investigator.
• Document, analyze, and communicate OSINT findings clearly and professionally.

Course Overview

PIL OSINT is a foundational course from Public Information Limited designed to help participants develop actionable intelligence skills using publicly available sources. Whether you’re in journalism, compliance, investigations, or research, this course provides the technical tools and strategic thinking needed to gather intelligence with accuracy and discretion. Emphasis is placed on real-world tools, ethical frameworks, and hands-on exploration.

Sample Module: Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT)

This module teaches how to identify, track, and extract data from social media platforms using browser-based tools and metadata analysis. Learners will review cases where social media data was key to investigations.

Lesson: Investigating Domain Ownership with WHOIS

In this lesson, participants will conduct domain investigations using WHOIS, DNS history tools, and passive reconnaissance techniques. Focus will be on tracing infrastructure links and identifying malicious patterns.