OSINT – Open Source Intelligence
Published 15.03.2026
This short article about OSINT, Open Source Intelligence, is my own little description of an interesting and socially beneficial “hobby” I’ve just begun exploring.
I’ll do my best to briefly explain what OSINT is and what it includes.
This description does not focus on information‑gathering methods or tools, but only on the basic principles.
OSINT comes from the English term Open Source Intelligence.
In practice, OSINT means searching for, studying, and interpreting information from publicly available sources.
All information used is freely accessible, either for free or for a fee—for example: news, maps, social media posts, business registries, satellite images, various archives, and public statements.
Open source intelligence is a legal activity that gathers information only from publicly available sources (whether free or paid).
It does not include breaking into systems, hacking, or unauthorized access to closed systems; it relies entirely on legally obtainable data.
In intelligence work—including OSINT—you do not influence or interfere with the data being collected.
You don’t “bang your head around the internet,” but instead gather data as discreetly as possible, usually through protected connections and leaving as few traces as possible for the target.
It is estimated that even more than 90% of all intelligence worldwide, including military intelligence, is based on open sources.
It’s also important to remember that although all available information is public, the use of collected information is not always ethically acceptable.
One must also be aware that information gathered from open sources can quickly turn into personal data that identifies an individual, at which point data protection laws begin to apply, and handling the information requires much more care.
Open source intelligence can be used, for example, for background checks on individuals, company investigations and competitor monitoring, military and strategic intelligence, information verification, threat identification, and decision‑making based on all of the above.
OSINT follows the same principles as intelligence work in general:
DATA → raw data collected from sources
INFORMATION → processed data, with irrelevant parts removed
KNOWLEDGE → information refined through the analyst’s skills, experience, and ability to interpret it
WISDOM → understanding that supports decision‑making, created from all previous stages
To reach the final level—Understanding (Wisdom)—an intelligence report is created based on verified information.
It follows six key questions (the 5WH Analysis):
- Where did it happen?
- Who or what was involved?
- When did it happen?
- What happened?
- How did it happen?
- Why did it happen?
A properly prepared intelligence report always includes:
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Title of the intelligence report (the name of the commissioned report)
- Keywords used to request the report
- Reliability rating of the report (for example, using the NATO Admiralty Code System)
- Name of the information‑gathering group and report authors (for privacy, never real names—e.g., Group A1 – User6, User7, User9)
- Time period of data collection (e.g., 03.11.2025 11:30–15:00)
- Total working hours spent on the report (e.g., 5.5 hours)
SUMMARY
- A summary of the report containing the most essential points
TASKING
- The given situation or issue that must be investigated
STARTING POINTS
- The main intelligence question
- Sub‑questions related to the main question
- Whether the group has background knowledge or expertise (or lack thereof)
- Whether the task has been limited or defined in advance
METHODS USED
- What information‑gathering methods, analysis methods, and tools were used
GENERAL SITUATION
- The broader context of the event or issue
5WH ANALYSIS
- Where, Who, When, What, How, Why
Additionally, for each point:
- Source references/links and an assessment of the reliability of both the source and the information (e.g., using the NATO Admiralty Code System)
- Timelines if they help clarify the matter
- Reference images if needed to justify details or events
CONCLUSION
- An analysis based on the tasking and an assessment of future developments (for example, using probability scales similar to those used by the Finnish Security Intelligence Service)
APPENDICES
- A complete list of the report’s attachments
Note: If something cannot be verified with certainty, this must be stated in the report so that the requester can take it into account when making decisions.
When all of this is finally done, the party who originally requested the information has a report that helps them understand the matter better and supports decision‑making when needed.
If you made it this far and found the topic interesting, in Finland for example, MPK occasionally offers OSINT courses and advanced OSINT courses for a small fee.
From time to time, you can also study the basics of intelligence through open university courses.
Open source intelligence is a great way to learn about topics that interest you, instead of simply repeating others’ mis‑ and disinformation—no matter how convincing it may sound.
With a bit of practice and the right tools, real factual information becomes surprisingly easy to find.
Let’s keep the flag high, the barrels hot, and the information factual.
