Internet Footprinting (aka OSINT – Open Source Intelligence)

What is OSINT? Well, according to Wikipedia it is:

“Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is intelligence collected from publicly available sources. In the intelligence community (IC), the term “open” refers to overt, publicly available sources (as opposed to covert or clandestine sources); it is not related to open-source software or public intelligence.”

In general, OSINT is simply the identifying, collecting, and analysis of publicly available data about a person, place, or thing.

Building a New Pentest Lab

A while back I decided that I was going to start a personal infosec “re-education” process during which I hope to learn new tools/techniques, polish up on the abilities I already have, and enhance any areas where I may be lacking.  In order to facilitate this, I needed a work area.  As with any project (woodworking, automotive, or information security), having the proper work area can make a huge difference in one’s ability to succeed in their endeavors.

Beware of strangers with candy.

Just as that has always been as good rule to help guide you safely through life, there are also simple rules to help protect you and you home computer while surfing the internet.

By following a few simple guidelines as well as a few precautions you should be safe from the vast majority of dangerous threats you will encounter on the internet.