Open Source Intelligence 101

Imagine you’re working on something important and all of a sudden you start seeing multiple pop-up ads, plus your files or apps are taking ages to load. You start to ask yourself, is my computer infected with malware? It can happen to anyone of us, so always be extra careful! If your computer starts acting up, it could be compromised with a virus or malware; however, this is just one of the many warning signs that could mean that your computer is infected. This is why it is vital to take action as quick as possible. Here are the 13 most common warning signs of a malware infection on your computer. 1. Your computer is running slowly and your apps and files take longer to load than usual. 2. You keep getting blasted with pop-up ads or strange messages on your computer. 3. Your computer keeps crashing and/or it freezes and the blue screen of death appears. 4. You start getting this message on a regular basis, “you’re running out of disk space on Windows.” 5...

Spyware is software that infiltrates your mobile phone or computer, stealing your data and private information. Spyware is classified as malicious software that is created to damage your device, often without you even realizing it is happening. A lot of spyware can even install foreign software that allows hackers to change your settings and passwords, that is why it is so important to always keep your device updated on a regular basis. Spyware is one of the most common threats that can gain access to your computer or cell phone, it can be a massive threat to your business as well as yourself as an individual since it can steal private, personal data and cause harm to your network. Here are the four main types of spyware that you need to lookout for… Adware. This spyware will track your browser history and your downloads in order to display ads about services and products you are interested in. Adware can be annoying plus it can really slow down your devices. ...

Audio forensics and investigations are defined as the field of digital forensics that is related to the acquisition, analysis, and evaluation of sound recordings. The results of an audio investigation are usually presented as evidence in court cases, whether they come from a criminal investigation or part of an official inquiry. We spoke to Sound Engineer, Kiana Schulla Pronk , to find out all there is to know about what is doable in an audio investigation. I was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. After becoming involved in the music scene in my high school years, I attended City Varsity School of Media and Creative Arts in Cape Town (CBD) 2016 - 2017. I completed a 2-year Diploma in Sound Engineering and graduated in March of 2018. This institution had the resources to train us and give us the tools to become an expert in the field that we study, to which I chose Sound Engineering. For 2 years, I studied full time and underwent training to become an Audio En...

Ethical hacking, sometimes known as white hat hacking is when a digital forensics expert or OSINT investigator attempts to penetrate a computer system, network or app on behalf of the owners – with their permission. Ethical hacking is usually done to find if there is any security vulnerabilities that a hacker or cybercriminal could use to exploit someone. The purpose of ethical hacking is to test the security of the systems involved and identify if there are any vulnerabilities in the system as well as the network or infrastructure. Investigators involved will often attempt to exploit the vulnerabilities themselves to see whether malicious activities are possible. Black hat hackers are the unethical counterpart of ethical hackers. Rather than take advantage, ethical hackers will use their skills to document if there are any weaknesses in the systems and give advice on how to fix them and then strengthen their overall security systems. Here are some ways ethical hackin...

In this day and age, it is so easy for criminals to use a digital device to carry out a traditional crime. A traditional crime such as blackmail which, back in the day, would usually be done using newspaper cuttings collaged together to create a ransom note is now being done in a completely different way using the power of digital devices as well as the internet. These days, it is so much easier for criminals to just use a computer to carry out a range of crimes such as, blackmail, identity theft, social media scams, ticket scams, dating bots, data theft and so much more. Some examples of other traditional crimes where a digital device can be used include instant messaging, which is often used to commit harassment. Criminals also continue to pose as your bank where they will SMS you and try to scam you into paying fake accounts, etc. Email is also used by cybercriminals on a regular basis to commit fraud by using phishing scams. It seems that the list is endless and ...

Imagine this common scenario, someone leaves a company after many years and starts working for a competitor business in the same business park. It is suspected that the employee may have taken private company info with them, such as client, supplier and pricing lists. No matter what company information it might be, when it is suspected that the employee may have stolen digital assets then it is vital that the company takes the right steps to ensure the evidence is protected and preserved, especially if it is needed in a possible civil litigation. For example, at our OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) department we receive a call from a client stating that they suspect their former employee took important propriety information with them when they left. They still have the former employee’s computer in the office, here’s what we’ll do next… First, we’ll tell the client to immediately isolate the computer in question. If the computer is turned off, then it needs to be lef...

Basically, everyone is on social media these days, so when you connect you’re basically advertising and sharing your life for the entire world to see. So why are social media investigations and social media intelligence so important? A trained professional can find information that any old regular person will never be able to spot as well as do so in the way that will ensure the evidence is secure, making sure they can prove who made the post, comment, etc. as well as prove when it was posted – even if it has already been deleted! At the OSINT division, we use our skills in the open-source intelligence department as well as a range of methods and techniques to find hidden social media accounts or ones that have private settings. Often when you are searching for someone on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. you will type in a name and a variety of accounts will appear, not including the ones that don’t show up in a public search. Because this happens we use a range of ...

Due diligence is the process of verifying, investigating or auditing a potential deal or investment to confirm the facts as well as the financial information. Due diligence needs to be completed to assure the buyer of the risks involved as well as what they’ll be getting. Due diligence is so important because it is important in making the right decisions by enhancing the information that is available to the people who are making the decisions. Due diligence allows the buyer to feel comfortable when it comes to their expectations about the transactions. If you’re interested in buying a business then it’s best to ensure proper due diligence is performed. Please contact chris@tcgforensics.co.za for more details on the due diligence process or take a look at our OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) website here www.osint.co.za . Reasons for Due Diligence... Common due diligence reviews with mainly focus on legal, financial and tax, but due diligence can look at so much m...

Online ticket scammers usually target various, popular events or destinations to try and take advantage or all the people who are desperately rushing and searching for tickets for buy. Fake tickets for various events include: - Concerts - Conferences - Plays - Sporting events - Live performances - Shows - Flight or train tickets - Other special events In general, all the tickets that these scammers sell are completely fake. Other times the tickets don’t exist, to begin with, so you pay but never receive anything. Since 2015 online ticket scams have been increasing and occurring more often. Scammers have been having a field day because of all the popular shows and events that are happening these days. Here are some tell-tale signs to lookout for: - The prices are much higher than the regular ticket price OR the prices are suspiciously low. - Before you buy tickets from a website, always check the contact details to make sure it’s legitimate. - If t...

CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) surveillance cameras can be used as a useful tool when it comes to fighting crime, finding valuable evidence that can be used in court and ensuring the streets are kept safe. The very presence of a CCTV camera can sometimes scare criminals away and prevent the crimes from happening in the first place. Investigators such as police investigators and digital forensics investigators use CCTV footage from cameras in many investigations, often to find licence plate numbers and identify criminals. In movies and series, all their CCTV video evidence is conveniently shot in HD, with perfect lighting and no blurriness whatsoever. Unfortunately this doesn’t happen in real life.  OSINT and digital forensics investigators use specialised forensic software to reveal details in videos that you thought were lost forever, resulting in an almost perfectly clear video that you can use to identify someone or something! Call 021 110 0422 or email co...

When you’re stuck in a situation where you can’t pay medical bills or your car needs repairs that aren’t covered by your insurance, a personal loan might be an easy answer to all your problems. However, you always need to be wary when it comes to personal loan scams; luckily there are a few red flags to look out for to help you spot the fakes and frauds! Here are the 8 signs of a personal loan scam… 1. There’s no credit check. All legitimate personal loan lenders will do a credit check before to ensure that you can repay the money. A scammer will not be interested in your credit score because they’re typically after your personal information instead. 2. The personal loan lender isn’t registered . In South Africa, as well as most other places, you have to register to be a loan provider. If you search for a loan provider or business and find they are not registered, you’ve probably found a fraudulent website! 3. The loan offer isn’t complete. All loan lenders n...

Do you know what social media intelligence is? Well to put it simply, it is the collection, curation and overall analysis of data found online in order to provide a look into the actions and habits of a certain individual or group. In a time where most of the people in the world are on social media networks, social media intelligence can be used to learn a lot by just studying what they do online. Here are some interesting social media facts and stats: - The top eight social media networks are Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter, WhatsApp and YouTube. - Did you know that more than half of the public use social media at least once a day? - YouTube is the most popular social media sharing website. - Facebook is the most popular social media sharing website – used by almost 70% of adults! - Social media use is higher for those who are younger – almost 90% of users are 18-29 years old. So why does social media intelligence and evidence found on social media matt...

Did you know that your SMSs, WhatsApp or social network inbox messages can be used as evidence against ? Well, for those who are possibly heading towards a divorce or a nasty breakup need to be extra careful about sending messages! Because of all the advancements in the area of digital forensics, including social media investigations and cellular forensics, there has been a massive spike in cases that use evidence found on digital devices such as smartphones and computers. Many people send messages without even thinking twice, this is known as “spontaneous venting”, however it can come back to hurt you, so always rethink what you’re saying before you hit send… When it comes to evidence in a divorce, usually a nasty one, things such as SMSs, WhatsApp messages and other direct messages are most commonly used as well as emails, phone numbers, GPS locations and search history. Most divorce lawyers will tell their clients to stay off social media platforms and avoid sending nasty mess...

Social media can be a great tool to document our daily lives, and when it comes to solving crimes, law enforcement officials and digital investigators view it as a valuable tool, too. *What is SmInt? Social Media Intelligence is the use of information stored within social media platforms to further the knowledge of a person, group or incident. Often this information is available unbeknownst to the user. While the information is not accessible at the click of a button it can be uncovered with queries and structured data calls.* A survey showed that majority use social media for several reasons: 1. Identifying people 2. Gathering evidence 3. Discovering criminal activity and locations 4. Community outreach 5. Soliciting crime tips 6. Notifying the public 7. Recruitment People put a great amount of personal, detailed information online. Targets even brag and post illicit valuable information in reference to travel, hobbies, places visited, functions, appointments, cir...

What is OsInt? Open Source Intelligence refers to the use of publicly accessible information as well as databases to collect information in a structured manner. Information is gained from Public and Private Databases, the surface web, the deep web and the dark web Who uses OsInt? OsInt is used by private and forensic investigators, attorneys, law enforcement, intelligence organisations, fraud investigators, human resources professionals, tracing agents and commercial enterprises. It is a key component of performing due diligence studies on persons and businesses. What is SmInt? Social Media Intelligence is the use of information stored within social media platforms to further the knowledge of a person, group or incident. Often this information is available unbeknownst to the user. While the information is not accessible at the click of a button it can be uncovered with queries and structured data calls. Is OsInt software? No, OsInt and SmInt are processes. These processes...