Day 1

Defining Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT): Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is the process of collecting and analyzing data from open, publicly available sources to produce actionable intelligence. It is a structured intelligence discipline, distinct from simple internet searches.

The term 'open source' highlights that the information is overtly and publicly accessible, unlike clandestine methods like Human Intelligence (HUMINT).

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) defines OSINT as intelligence 'derived exclusively from publicly or commercially available information to address specific intelligence priorities, requirements or gaps'.

Publicly Available Information (PAI) is the raw data, but it only becomes OSINT after it has been collected, processed, analyzed, and disseminated to fulfill a specific requirement.

Sources of PAI are diverse and include media, the internet, public government data, professional publications, and commercial data.

Defining Digital Forensics (DF): Digital Forensics (DF) is a branch of forensic science that involves the recovery, investigation, examination, and analysis of material from digital devices.

The primary goal is to extract data from electronic evidence and present the findings in a way that is admissible in court, which requires using sound forensic techniques.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines DF as 'the application of science to the identification, collection, examination, and analysis, of data while preserving the integrity of the information and maintaining a strict chain of custody for the data'.

This process must be demonstrably reliable, accurate, and repeatable to withstand legal scrutiny.