Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is the art of gathering information from publicly available sources.
This valuable skill can be used for various purposes, including investigative journalism, competitive research, and even personal security.
By mastering OSINT techniques, you can uncover hidden insights, connect the dots, and gain a deeper understanding of individuals, organizations, and events.
Finding the right OSINT course can be a challenge, with so many options available on Udemy.
You’re looking for a program that provides a comprehensive overview of the field, hands-on experience, and expert guidance to help you develop valuable skills.
For the best OSINT course overall on Udemy, we recommend OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence.
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of open-source intelligence, guiding you through the process of gathering information from publicly available sources.
You’ll delve into both the theoretical and practical aspects of OSINT, equipping you with the skills to uncover valuable insights about individuals, organizations, and events.
While this is our top recommendation, there are other excellent OSINT courses available on Udemy.
Keep reading for our curated list of recommendations, categorized by learning level, skill focus, and specific applications, to help you find the perfect course for your needs and goals.
OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence
This OSINT course offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of open-source intelligence, guiding you through the process of gathering information from publicly available sources.
You’ll delve into both the theoretical and practical aspects of OSINT, equipping you with the skills to uncover valuable insights about individuals, organizations, and events.
The course starts with a solid foundation, introducing you to the fundamental concepts and terminology of OSINT.
You’ll then dive into the technical aspects, learning how to set up a virtual machine environment using Virtualbox and CSILinux.
This hands-on experience will equip you with the skills to create a secure and versatile OSINT workspace.
You’ll explore the Linux terminal, gaining a strong understanding of data collection and handling techniques, including the use of powerful tools like Cherrytree for organized note-taking.
You’ll learn how to conduct advanced searches using Google operators, master reverse image searches to uncover hidden connections, and utilize geolocation techniques to pinpoint locations.
You’ll delve into the intricacies of phone number research, exploring various methods to uncover information about phone numbers.
The course places a strong emphasis on social media OSINT, teaching you how to create sock puppet accounts for discreet data collection and analyze social media data for insights.
You’ll also explore the dark web, learning how to use Tor and browser plugins for secure browsing, and gain insights into navigating this unique digital environment.
You’ll acquire essential skills in web OSINT, learning to utilize tools like Spiderfoot and HTTrack to gather information from websites.
The course also provides you with specialized tools for employee and employer searches, including Black Book Online and USA Public Data Search, enabling you to conduct thorough investigations into individuals and organizations.
The syllabus is enriched with practical exercises and tests designed to solidify your learning.
You’ll be challenged to apply your newfound skills in real-world scenarios, such as finding information about a building, a person, or a phone number.
You’ll also learn to analyze EXIF data, uncovering hidden details within images, and explore various frameworks like OSINT Framework and Maltego, providing you with powerful tools for connecting the dots.
The course concludes with valuable resources for finding OSINT work and certifications, setting you on the path to a career in this dynamic field.
The Secrets of OSINT (Open-source Intelligence)
You’ll start by learning to protect your own privacy while conducting your investigations, mastering techniques like choosing secure browsers and utilizing search engines that don’t track your activity.
This is essential for anyone involved in OSINT, as you’ll be dealing with sensitive data and potential adversaries.
The course then delves into the art of recruiting intelligence sources.
Learn how to trace IP addresses, extract hidden data from emails, and even uncover information from seemingly ordinary images through reverse searches and forensic analysis.
These skills will open doors to a wealth of data you might not even know exists.
Next, you’ll master the power of search engines like Google, DuckDuckGo, and the Wayback Machine.
You’ll learn advanced Google operators and explore the unique capabilities of these search tools, unlocking hidden information and uncovering valuable insights.
Social media platforms are another treasure trove of intelligence.
The course covers techniques for investigating Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, showing you how to spot trolls, utilize filters, and even track down individuals hiding behind pseudonyms.
Finally, you’ll learn to utilize powerful tools like Maltego, connecting the dots between domain names, IP addresses, emails, and phone numbers.
You’ll even learn how to track Bitcoin transactions, providing a deeper understanding of the digital landscape.
This course is not just about acquiring technical skills; it’s about learning to think critically and strategically, connecting the pieces of the puzzle to uncover the truth.
Learn Social Engineering & Open-source Intelligence (OSINT)
This course offers a robust exploration of social engineering and OSINT, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the complex digital landscape.
You’ll delve into the practicalities of information gathering, learning how to leverage search engines, social networks, and specialized tools like Maltego to uncover insights about individuals and organizations.
The course then transitions to hands-on demonstrations of social engineering techniques, showcasing the power of the Social Engineering Toolkit (SET) and Metasploit.
You’ll gain practical experience in executing attacks, understanding their real-world implications.
Beyond traditional social engineering, you’ll venture into the realm of web and network attacks.
Learn about the dangers of cross-site scripting (XSS) and how to employ tools like Burp Suite, Dirb, and Hydra for brute-forcing usernames, passwords, and entire websites.
The course also provides an insightful introduction to Android reverse engineering, guiding you through the process of decompiling and analyzing APK files using APKTool and QARK.
You’ll leave with a valuable skillset for both offensive and defensive security operations.
OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence Level 2
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of open-source intelligence (OSINT), covering a wide range of tools and techniques for finding information online.
You’ll begin by setting up a virtual machine using Virtualbox and delve into the fundamentals of the OSINT cycle, exploring various tools for website crawling, including Dmitry, Dig, and The Harvester.
You’ll also learn about using wget to download files, a valuable skill in any OSINT investigation.
The course then moves into social engineering, where you’ll gain practical knowledge of tools like Grabify for tracking someone using a Visa gift card or spoofing emails.
You’ll also learn how to effectively leverage websites like Redfin and Zillow to find out who owns a property.
Encryption and secure file transfer are covered, with a focus on tools like Sharedrop and Veracrypt.
You’ll learn how to protect yourself from keyloggers and explore the creation and implementation of canary tokens to detect unauthorized access.
Network scanning and username checking using Nmap and Zenmap are also explored, along with tools like Pipl Pro for online people searches and manalyzer for code analysis.
You’ll delve into the world of VPNs, learning how to use them effectively and test their functionality using DNSLEAKTEST.
The course covers tools like Exonera Tor for anonymizing your internet traffic, ensuring privacy during your OSINT investigations.
A dedicated section focuses on criminal checks, providing you with the knowledge to utilize websites like crimereports and inmateloc to find information about individuals and their criminal histories.
The course delves into social media analysis, showcasing tools like botcheck, Botometer, and Twayback for Twitter, as well as Stalkface and Who posted what? for Facebook.
You’ll learn how to effectively leverage OSINT techniques on platforms like Reddit, Instagram, and TikTok, gaining insights into tools like Instaloader for downloading Instagram videos and plagiarism checkers for identifying fake content.
A specific section explores dating-related OSINT, highlighting tools like ashley cynical, Tinder, Pimeyes, and Scamdigger.
You’ll also learn about other people search tools, including xlek.com and findagrave for locating information about individuals who have passed away.
The course extends beyond individual investigations, delving into OSINT techniques in domains like politics and business.
You’ll discover tools like voterrecords for finding information about political donations and websites like the Better Business Bureau and Glassdoor for company research.
You’ll even learn about OSINT techniques specific to Bitcoin and vehicles, utilizing tools like Bitcoin Whos Who, Bitref, and Carfax.
The course ventures into the dark web, providing a guide to tools like Darkdump, onionlandsearchengine, and hiddenwikitor for accessing information within the dark web.
Finally, you’ll explore image analysis tools like Social Catfish and Remove Background for reverse image search and background removal.
The course concludes with a section dedicated to identifying and dealing with misinformation online, equipping you with the skills to navigate the increasingly complex online landscape.
OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence Windows edition
You’ll learn how to use a wide array of online tools and techniques to gather intelligence about individuals, businesses, and events.
You’ll start by understanding the fundamentals of OSINT and its methodology, including data collection, bias awareness, and the creation of mind maps for organizing your thoughts and analyzing information.
You’ll also learn the art of writing effective reports and presenting your findings.
The course then delves into practical applications, introducing you to powerful tools like Maltego, which helps you visualize complex relationships between entities.
You’ll explore websites like OpenCorporates, Pipl, and Family Tree Now, gaining invaluable experience in gathering information about individuals and companies.
You’ll also master the techniques for leveraging social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to uncover hidden insights.
Throughout the course, security and ethical practices are emphasized.
You’ll learn about VPNs, DNS leaks, file shredders, and even the Darkweb, gaining the knowledge to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
You’ll put your newly acquired OSINT skills to the test through engaging hands-on exercises and quizzes.
You’ll tackle real-world scenarios, such as identifying misinformation and tracing the origins of a phone number.
You’ll even learn to create your own OSINT USB drive, making your research skills portable and readily available.
The course concludes with insightful tips for pursuing a career in OSINT and valuable resources to help you continue your learning journey.
If you’re looking for a thorough and practical guide to the world of OSINT, this course is a valuable investment in your skills and knowledge.
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
If you’re interested in mastering the art of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), this course offers a comprehensive introduction to essential techniques.
You’ll dive deep into Google Dorking, learning how to craft powerful search queries to uncover hidden information within Google’s massive index.
You’ll also become adept at finding usernames linked to specific email addresses, a crucial skill for investigating individuals or organizations online.
But the course goes beyond Google searches.
You’ll be introduced to Kali Linux, a powerful operating system favored by penetration testers and security auditors.
You’ll learn how to set up and use Kali to scan websites, analyze domain names, and extract valuable data from images.
Speaking of images, you’ll become an expert in Reverse Image Search, a technique that helps you trace an image’s origin or find similar images across the web.
The course provides a solid foundation in OSINT by covering a range of core tools and methods.
You’ll learn how to find information, identify patterns, and draw insights from publicly available data.
While the course is a great starting point for OSINT beginners, it’s worth noting that it’s more focused on teaching the techniques rather than providing real-world applications.
You’ll learn the “how” but may need to seek further resources to understand the “why” and “when” these skills are applied in practical scenarios.
Introduction to OSINT for Journalists and Researchers
You’ll embark on a journey from the fundamentals of OSINT techniques to mastering powerful tools like Google Earth Pro and Sentinel Hub.
The course’s strength lies in its practical approach.
You’ll not only learn theoretical concepts like verification techniques and bias avoidance, but also engage in hands-on exercises using real-world examples.
You’ll be guided through geolocation and geoverification techniques, analyzing satellite imagery and learning to pinpoint locations with precision.
A Beginner’s Guide to OSINT
This course provides a solid foundation in the fundamentals of OSINT, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital landscape effectively.
You’ll start by gaining a clear understanding of what OSINT is, its various applications, and the ethical considerations surrounding its use.
The course delves into the diverse range of OSINT sources, from social media and public records to satellite imagery, allowing you to explore the vast potential of open-source intelligence gathering.
The practical aspects of the course are equally compelling.
You’ll learn how to set up a secure virtual environment using Kali Linux in Virtualbox, providing you with a dedicated space for OSINT investigations.
This hands-on approach equips you with essential Linux command proficiency, opening doors to a world of digital sleuthing tools.
By mastering these core commands, you’ll be well-equipped to confidently navigate and analyze data within your virtual environment.
This course will empower you to leverage open-source intelligence effectively, whether you’re seeking to uncover valuable information, conduct competitive research, or simply expand your understanding of the digital world.