Unlocking the Mystery: How Hackers Dive into Your World Using OSINT!

Peeling Back the Layers: OSINT Unveiled

Open Source Intelligence Technique which is most commonly known as OSINT is a hacking technique that uses a variety of different ways to find information about an individual or a company,from their legal First and Last name to their SSN(Social Security Number).

This process is fairly easy to do and can be done by almost anyone having intermediate knowledge about how search engines work and how to force it give information you want.

Google Dorking: The Gateway to Your Secrets

This is most commonly done through Google Dorking also known as Google Hacking. This is done by providing specific key words or operators to the google search engine, these operators can be further combined with each other to obtain information that would not have normally been available with a normal google search. Almost every cyber attack that you have heard of probably started with a Google Dork!

Information that is mostly commonly found using Google Dorking are usernames, passwords, email address lists, personal finance information such as credit card numbers, personal information such as full legal names, house addresses and the list is endless.

Social Media Goldmine: Your Digital Footprint Exposed

Once this data is obtained, hackers use tools to graph out this information and can also automate these scans with the help of OSINT tools, such as Maltego. It is one of the tools that help manage known information and discover more. Almost everything about you is fetched from your public social media pages and other leaked databases from breached companies. Since most people have their social media pages set to public, and multiple companies are breached almost every month, revealing users' information to the public, it becomes nearly impossible for ordinary people to safeguard themselves against such attacks. Data that is already on the internet is almost impossible to take down. If you take down one website, it is highly possible that some other website might already have your information.

Reverse image search is employed when an online image of an individual is found, helping uncover additional details by scanning the image for sensitive information.

Metadata Magic: The Silent Spy in Your Photos

While on the topic of photos, there is also a commonly used technique by cyber forensic experts to track down an individual by scanning the metadata of a picture that the target took. Image metadata is like a hidden record that travels with a picture, holding non-visible information about the photo, such as when and where it was taken, the type of camera used, and even some details about the settings. In simple terms, it's the behind-the-scenes data that can tell a story about your picture without actually being part of the picture you see.

Impersonation Tactics: How Hackers Exploit Your Identity

Combining these methods to piece together various pieces of information can reveal the complete identity of a specific individual. Malicious hackers exploit this identity to impersonate people, framing them for crimes or attempting to steal their money.

Protecting Your Digital Fort: Simple Steps for Security

While it's challenging for ordinary individuals to fully protect themselves from such attacks, there are personal measures to minimise online exposure. Avoid sharing pictures with geotags or those revealing specific locations. Additionally, changing passwords regularly is a practical step. In the case of a future data breach, updating passwords regularly reduces the risk of unauthorised access to your accounts.

[Disclaimer: This content is intended for educational purposes only. Unauthorized use of these techniques for malicious activities is illegal and unethical.]