In recent years, the digital age has surged as an integral part of human activity in most daily endeavors. Consequently, cybersecurity is becoming one of the most relevant and urgent topics for Internet users.
Every netizen faces issues of data protection, privacy, and vulnerability in the virtual space. Cyber threats target everyone equally, and the damage they cause can be fatal. The main types of online threats include:
Fraud
Viruses and Trojans (malware)
Extortion through software
DDoS attacks on servers
To prevent potential attacks on users’ personal or commercial information, it is recommended to use proven methods to combat hackers.
OSINT, or Open Source Intelligence, is considered the most popular tool among cybersecurity specialists. Exploration is conducted from open sources, ensuring accurate results and security for the user. OSINT is the process of selecting and analyzing information from publicly available portals to produce intelligence. These sources can include:
Internet - Various web resources, social networks, blogs, forums, and other virtual platforms.
Publications - Reports, studies, international market analyses, and academic articles are analyzed here.
Media: news, TV programs, newspaper excerpts, radio, blogs, and podcasts.
Several information sources are also considered, such as databases and open archives, which can be accessed via an Internet connection. OSINT does not use classified or sensitive material, making it legitimate and accessible to a large number of users. It is an effective and safe tool that produces accurate results in minutes.
Cybersecurity: Peculiarities of Applying the OSINT System
Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to identify at the moment of the attack. Therefore, it is necessary for users and organizations not only to increase awareness but also to adopt new security technologies.
The ability to foresee and protect against data breaches is becoming easier in a world where artificial intelligence and machine learning are actively used. Currently, it is not necessary to spend hours analyzing the activities of potential Internet criminals and compiling all the obtained material on paper. For this, cybersecurity is available, and OSINT has become an indispensable tool in this task. It is used for various purposes, including:
Monitoring the activity of cybercriminals. Studying their methods and tools. Identifying potential vulnerabilities in the organization’s network infrastructure.
Assessing risks associated with social engineering and employee training.
Reconstructing the sequence of events: from finding the origin of an attack to analyzing its causes and consequences.
This resource is also exploited in major countries to gather data on new threats. Thus, the military sphere of OSINT receives continuous alerts about modernized attacks and stays updated with the latest trends. All conditions are established to respond quickly to emerging threats in the future.
Advantages of OSINT Operation
Any cyberattack on sensitive information causes many problems for both the user and their environment. The widespread use of OSINT as cyber defense is based on its advantages:
Accessibility, where the public data used in OSINT can be leveraged by most companies.
Cost-effectiveness. Compared to other intelligence-gathering resources, such as SIGINT (signals intelligence), OSINT does not require large financial outlays.
Efficiency. The cyber tool responds quickly to an emerging threat because information is accessed in real-time, without delays or interruptions. It is excellent for combating different types of problems, from identity leaks to cyberbullying and financial fraud.
User Protection in a Digital World: Recommendations
Specialists use classified or open information sources and have access to countless databases. On the other hand, common users should follow steps to avoid threats in the virtual space:
Use secure passwords
Enable two-step authentication
Regularly update software
Additionally, using modern services like OSINT and X-Ray Contact can help recognize potential threats and significantly increase security.
Author: Jordan Rodgers- Lead Technologist at Black Hat
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