Source reliability
An assessment of how much a piece of information can be trusted: type of source, proximity to the primary source, possibility of independent confirmation, date and motives of publication. In BLACKFILE reports, every material fact is accompanied by such an assessment.
Practical significance
The distinction between "confirmed - probable - not confirmed" protects the decision from false certainty: the client sees what can be relied upon and what requires further verification. This is what distinguishes an analytical report from a collection of links.
Where it is used
- all analytical reports
- litigation analytics and evidence
- verification of publications and allegations
- open source intelligence
What the term does not mean
High source reliability does not make a conclusion beyond dispute: it means the information was obtained from a verifiable place and withstood comparison - but context and the possibility of new data always remain.
How it differs from «OSINT»
OSINT collects; source confidence weighs. Without this second step, collection turns into an accumulation of rumor. More about this term
Illustrative example
Three sources report the sale of a business: an anonymous Telegram channel, a business media outlet citing "acquaintances," and a registry entry. Only the registry entry carries weight in the report, the rest is treated as unconfirmed background.
Related terms, services and guides
Definition verified 2 August 2026
Does this term relate to your situation?
Describe the situation in your own words. BLACKFILE will assess whether it is acceptable and suggest the appropriate area of work.