An In-Depth Overview of Resources, Tactics, and Tools for Gathering Intelligence Outside the US

Full title: OSINT Around the Globe: An In-Depth Overview of Resources, Tactics, and Tools for Gathering Intelligence Outside the US

The wealth of open-source intelligence training available today is overwhelming, not to mention that with every passing day tools and techniques, that were once the favored tool in an analyst’s arsenal, become defunct in the blink of an eye. Furthermore, the majority of available trainings focus on information exploitation on and from United States based sources and targets. While plenty of that information is applicable and translatable to international subjects, there is a gap that needs filling.

OSINT Around the Globe focuses on providing a detailed overview on gathering and analysis of non-US based targets, as well as tangible resources and techniques that investigators and intelligence analysts can walk away with and integrate into their toolbox moving forward. More specifically, audience members will be provided with investigative examples and resources for the following topics (including but not limited to): web-based search tools, news outlets, social media, images & video, geolocation, language & translation, along with country and regionally specific materials for Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Throughout the presentation, audience members will have the ability to test techniques and resources, on both instructor provided tasks and tasks leveraging their own search selectors based on their current geographical location. For example, comparing translation resources of different languages to illustrate the pitfalls of leveraging said tools and determining level of accuracy for a variety of dialects.

Intelligence, as well as collection methodology, does not stop at the United States borders. There is no telling when an investigation may take an analyst outside the US, so it is time we start teaching how to locate international targets before they slip away.

About the Speaker
Jessica Smith is the Special Investigations Lead for the National Child Protection Task Force. She holds a Masters in Criminal Justice and certifications in OSINT.

View upcoming Summits: http://www.sans.org/u/DuS
Download the presentation slides (SANS account required) at https://www.sans.org/u/1iaE
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