OSINT
Open-source intelligence: the systematic collection and analysis of legally accessible information - registers, publications, court databases, archives, digital footprints. The key word is "systematic": OSINT differs from simple searching in its methodology and verification.
Practical significance
OSINT is the foundation of modern verification: a substantial share of material facts about people and companies is legally accessible if one knows where and how to look. Professional OSINT includes checking the primary source, dating and assessing the reliability of each piece of information.
Where it is used
- all forms of Due Diligence
- search for people and assets
- information verification and fact-checking
- preparation for negotiations and disputes
What the term does not mean
OSINT does not mean hacking, access to leaks or closed databases: the prefix open is fundamental. Working with illegally obtained data is not OSINT.
How it differs from «Source Confidence»
OSINT is a collection method; source confidence is an assessment of the reliability of what was collected. The first answers "where it was found", the second - "how much to trust it". More about this term
Illustrative example
A counterparty's claim of "twenty years in the market" is checked against archives: the domain was registered three years ago, and the first publication about the company dates from the same time.
Related terms, services and guides
Definition verified 2 August 2026
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