What is Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)?
Intelligence collected from publicly available sources and legally accessible information.
Detailed Explanation
Open source intelligence (OSINT) refers to information collected from publicly available sources that can be legally and ethically gathered. In competitive intelligence, OSINT includes competitor websites, social media, job postings, patent filings, regulatory documents, news media, and academic publications. OSINT forms the backbone of most CI programs and is distinguished from proprietary or classified intelligence.
Real-World Examples
Monitoring competitor job postings for strategic signals
Analyzing competitor patent filings
Tracking competitor social media activity
How It's Used
Competitor monitoring
Market research
Due diligence
Threat assessment
Put Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Into Practice
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