Role of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) in Cybersecurity and Threat Analysis

Abstract: Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) has existed prior to modern technology. Military and political organizations employed OSINT to gather intelligence on their adversaries and opponents, respectively, for strategic decision making. In this era, OSINT is used both for cyber attacks by bad actors and for detecting cyber attacks. Its importance in cyber security cannot be overemphasized, especially when coupled with artificial intelligence. The objectives of the study were outlined, including delving into the basics of OSINT, its use in cyber security and investigations of some selected tools and techniques employed in OSINT. This study relies on a desk research approach, where existing data from various sources are reviewed to get background knowledge on the topic under study. The reasons for undertaking this study are also stated. The use of OSINT comes with challenges, limitations, privacy concerns, legal and ethical considerations, and OSINT threats. The study provides insights on how they are tackled, as well as OSINT applications.