OSINT Open Source Intelligence - Training Course

The 3-day Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) training course is so much more than just browsing the World Wide Web. Our training programme is the Pathfinder XXI course and aims to share the unique Arno Reuser RIS OSINT Methodology to do open source research in a planned, systematic and structured way to find open source information that you would otherwise never find. Using the methodology, delegates will learn in-depth techniques to find all relevant information from open sources, execute a systematic research plan, to use for market research, investigations, intelligence production, fact-checking techniques or vulnerability testing.

There is in-depth discussions on everything you need to be successful and efficient in online research: best search engines, obscure search engines, social media monitoring, how to built an OSINT Research Station, the Deep Web/Dark Web, finding hidden information, creating a search plan, how to bring down 10+ million results to a manageable number, and more.

What you will learn

The RIS OSINT Pathfinder addresses the full cycle of investigative online research, from problem deconstruction up to and including search strategies. What you will learn is:

• The best and most effective search strategies
• Strategies to bring down 10+ million hits to a few relevant ones
• How to search the Deep Web
• Monitoring techniques for social media from simple to professional
• All ins and outs of the worlds leading search engines
• How to structure and plan your research
• Advanced techniques to validate information for reliability
• How to find out the true senders of e-mail
• How to find hidden information in photographs
• Maintaining a journal of your research to save you time and money
• The best and most useful tools and add-ons to turn your PC into a RIS OSINT Research Station.

And much more.

What you will get

All RIS training programmes and workshops are well documented in a variety of support materials and services. The idea of the programme is to understand, not to learn tricks. The tricks are all documented in quick reference sheets and a handbook.

What you get is:

Three full days of OSINT training ;

• The RIS OSINT Research Machine, a fully adapted Firefox browser with all the tools, add-ons, extra search bars, and pre-formatted bookmarks
• The RIS OSINT Handbook with all the details, in print, with a table of contents and sources
• Extensive lunch and catering included
• A laptop on loan for the duration of the training programme (you can bring your own if you like)
• Quick Reference Sheets with the full command languages of the major international search engines, including the ‘secret’ operators
• A hand-picked literature list for your background reading
• There will be an online training website for participants during and after the training programme
• One year access to the RIS Helpdesk by phone or e-mail for participants to ask questions to the teacher after the training
• Hand-signed RIS Pathfinder Certificate
• Group photograph (if required)

We also invite all our participants for the Icebreaker Event in the evening of the first day, an informal get-together networking event hosted by us with drinks, snacks and a light dinner.

Who should attend?

The programme is particularly suited for:

• Analysts and researchers working in conflict areas, for NGO’s, or EU/UN missions abroad.
• Librarians and information professionals who work for a government, semi-government, international governments in support of decision-makers
• Scientific researchers who need a solid foundation in information research as a starting point for their research
• Journalists, investigative journalists, writers, historians who are dependent on decent and high-quality open source information research
• Researchers in the private sector, in government agencies, in NGO’s
• Cybercrime experts who are looking for the pearls in the haystack ;
• Financial fraud and financial crime researchers and analysts
• Insurance and risc researchers
• International relations, conflict studies
• Researchers looking for structure, systematic and planned foundations in their work

What does a RIS Pathfinder OSINT training course look like?

The Pathfinder training programme is NOT about Google tricks, nor is it about using particular software brands. It is about a METHODOLOGY that can be used anywhere anytime, regardless of the search engine used. Like one former participant described it: “R.I.S. is OSINT on step 4 to 5, where other training programmes are step 1 and 2”. The research methodology can be used to use Google to the max, but can also be used for other search engines, commercial databases or your in-house search engines.

The programme will be performed LIVE, with REAL TIME exercises so participants can see for themselves the methodology actually does work. Exercises are as much as possible live as well. There are no predesigned demos or something. Also, we make only use of FREELY available software and tools.

The theory is mixed with practical group or individual EXERCISES. Finally, the aim is to be PRACTICAL, everything learned should be applicable immediately at work. So, no wasting time on future outlooks and what may happen in the years to come, but real and practical studying to get results.

The WHY is more important than the HOW. The HOW is covered in handouts and quick reference sheets. It’s hard work, intensive, with a lot of new information to digest. RIS actively promotes COLLABORATIVE working techniques. Lots of attention will thus be paid to techniques to maintain a Work Journal to share your research with others.

Agenda (click to enlarge)

Trainer

Arno Reuser - Course tutor for OSINT Training Course

Arno Reuser is a professional librarian and information scientist with more than 30 years of experience in information handling and processing. He was the founder of the Open Source Intelligence Bureau for the Dutch Defense Intelligence and Security Service (DISS) and currently holds the position of Senior Policy Advisor for OSINT and Cyber at the Dutch Ministry of Defence.