OSINT in the Real World
Practical OSINT techniques applicable to security careers and daily life—real investigation walkthroughs and personal case studies.
Summary
Ryan MacDougall, an experienced social engineer and OSINT practitioner, illustrates how open-source intelligence methodologies can be applied beyond traditional information security engagements to address practical problems and enhance personal safety in daily life.
[05:40] MacDougall presents real-world investigative case studies, demonstrating how public records and online telemetry can be used to vet home improvement contractors [11:18], assess Craigslist transactions, investigate neighborhood safety and zoning history when purchasing real estate, and verify prospective dates or roommates.
[16:52] The talk walks through practical research workflows, showing how to cross-reference municipal property records, tax assessor databases, court registries, and social media footprints to corroborate background stories and uncover concealed liabilities. MacDougall discusses passive reconnaissance techniques [23:13], operational security (OPSEC) for personal researchers, and the importance of adhering to strict ethical and legal boundaries to ensure OSINT investigations do not cross into harassment or invasion of privacy.
(AI summary — Gemini Flash)
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