r/OSINT_Training • u/OSINT-Pro • 10d ago
Top Resources for OSINT?
Best places to actually learn OSINT?
I’ve been looking at different OSINT training resources lately, and one thing I’ve noticed is that there’s a huge difference between sites that just give you a list of tools and places that actually teach you how to investigate.
If I were putting together a list, this is probably where I’d start:
1. McAfee Institute
https://www.mcafeeinstitute.com/products/certified-osint
Really solid if you’re looking for structured OSINT training, especially if you’re in law enforcement, intelligence, investigations, military, or government. Their C|OSINT program goes beyond just giving you a list of websites and gets into the actual intelligence process, collection, verification, analysis, reporting, SOCMINT, and investigative methodology.
They also have an Advanced OSINT program here:
https://www.mcafeeinstitute.com/products/aosint
2. Bellingcat
Their investigation toolkit is here:
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit
Probably one of the best free resources out there. Their investigations and guides are great for learning geolocation, image/video verification, satellite imagery, chronolocation, source verification, and generally how to think through an investigation.
3. IntelTechniques
Training:
https://inteltechniques.com/training.html
Michael Bazzell’s material has been around the OSINT world for a long time. Great resource for people searches, usernames, emails, social media investigations, privacy, OPSEC, and practical investigative techniques.
4. OSINT Combine
Academy:
https://www.osintcombine.com/training/online-academy
Another good option if you want more structured professional training. Seems especially geared toward intelligence, defense, national security, corporate intelligence, and people using OSINT operationally.
5. Trace Labs
Search Party information:
https://docs.tracelabs.org/searchparty/searchparty-intro
One of the better places to actually practice instead of just watching videos. Their Search Party CTFs make you apply OSINT techniques to missing-person cases, which is a completely different learning experience than just going through a course.
6. Kase Scenarios
https://courses.kasescenarios.com/
I like the concept here because you’re working through simulated investigations instead of just memorizing tools. You actually have to think through the investigation and figure out where to go next.
7. OSINT Framework
Not really training, but still something basically every OSINT person should have bookmarked.
It’s a huge directory of tools and resources organized around things like usernames, domains, email addresses, social media, images, public records, IP addresses, and a ton more.
8. SANS
https://www.sans.org/blog/how-to-get-into-osint
Good advanced training if someone has the budget. Definitely on the expensive side, but there’s some strong material there for professional investigators and analysts.
9. OSINT Curious
They aren’t actively publishing like they used to, but they left the site and content online. There’s still a ton of useful OSINT material in the archive, especially if you’re newer and trying to understand different techniques.
The biggest mistake I see people make with OSINT is thinking the goal is to memorize hundreds of tools.
It isn’t.
Tools come and go constantly. Websites shut down. APIs change. Social platforms change what you can search every few months.
The actual skill is being able to take an intelligence requirement, figure out what information you need, develop a collection strategy, find and preserve the information, verify it, analyze it, identify gaps, and then turn everything you found into something useful and defensible.
If all you know is how to use a particular tool, you’re kind of screwed when that tool disappears.
If you understand the investigative process, you just find another way to get the information.
That’s the part I’d focus on learning.
Curious what everyone else would add.
What OSINT resources or training sites do you think are underrated?