OSINT Blog
How OSINT Helps Unmask Dark Web Actors Like Incognito Market’s Mastermind
Earlier this month, a Taiwanese national, 23-year-old Rui-Siang Lin, was arrested on suspicion of owning and running one of the dark web’s most successful drug marketplaces. He now faces charges for drug trafficking, money laundering, and misbranding prescription medication that could result in a life sentence if convicted.
Continue ReadingActioning Publicly Available Information: The Top 5 Obstacles Facing The Intelligence Community
For intelligence professionals, incorporating publicly available data and information into their analysis is vital. The modern operating environment is awash in digital content from a wide array of sources, ranging from freely available information on social media platforms, blogs, and news articles to commercially available data requiring specialized…
Continue ReadingThe Top 3 Takeaways from SOF Week: Partnerships, Integration, and Innovation
SOF Week, the annual conference for the international special operations forces (SOF) community, just wrapped up its 2024 session. The Skopenow team was able to attend and connect with high-level public-sector threat assessment and digital research professionals. However, those who couldn’t attend might be interested in seeing what they missed. SOF…
Continue ReadingTackling the Flow of Fentanyl into the US with OSINT
Synthetic substances have profoundly impacted the illegal drug market, leading to devastating consequences across the US. Fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic opioid, is a prime example of this crisis, being responsible for over half of the approximately 112,00 drug deaths in the US in 2023. Although initially developed in 1959 as a prescription…
Continue ReadingEnhancing Public Sector OSINT Workflows with AI and Automation
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is crucial for public sector organizations, particularly law enforcement and government agencies, as it can significantly increase case resolutions while bolstering community safety and reducing crime. Traditionally, agencies have relied on manual OSINT techniques to gather vital information from publicly available…
Continue ReadingFrom Data to Action: OSINT's Impact on Humanitarian Challenges
The advent of the internet ushered in a hyper-connected way of life that revolutionized humanity. Our worlds got smaller as information and people from around the world became accessible with just a click or keystroke. Long-distance communications were trivialized, work became more productive, and current events began to be relayed to us with lightning…
Continue ReadingFair Game: The Role of OSINT in Combating Sports Corruption
In the high-octane world of sports, physical prowess and mental grit fuel not just athletes but entire communities, cultures, and economies. The prevalence of sports today—driven by the legalization of betting, the globalization of viewership through streaming, celebrity athletes, and high-profile investments—underscores how money "talks" in this…
Continue ReadingEnhancing Homeland Security: Leveraging OSINT Solutions for Border Security & Transportation
Border and transportation networks often form the backbone of a nation's infrastructure, serving as essential points for entry and exit. As active channels that enable the flow of people, goods, and economic activity, it is essential that these routes remain operational and secure.
Continue ReadingSafeguarding Amateur Athletes in the Era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)
In recent years, the landscape of college and amateur athletics has undergone a seismic shift with the advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. No longer solely reliant on scholarships and stipends, student-athletes now have the opportunity to monetize their personal brand through various avenues such as social media, endorsements, and…
Continue ReadingHow to Ensure Campus Safety with 360-Degree Situational Awareness
Colleges and universities, by their very nature, are open and accessible spaces, designed to encourage the exchange of ideas—but this openness also exposes them to various risks and threats. Balancing accessibility with security is a complex challenge, requiring higher education security teams to protect campuses in a way that doesn’t undermine their…
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