What is Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) refers to data gathered and analysed from publicly available sources. While it originated as a tool for intelligence and security agencies, OSINT has become an essential investigative method for private investigators, analysts and researchers seeking or preserving online evidence.
Online Investigations Pty Ltd, a Melbourne-based private investigation firm, is a leading provider of OSINT services in Australia. We use open-source intelligence not only to solve investigations but also to uncover broader contextual insights that support complex legal, corporate and commercial matters.
Our expertise in OSINT has supported success across key industries including:
- Insolvency and asset recovery
- Debt recovery investigations
- Interview preparation and sourcing intelligence
- Intellectual property, counterfeit and patent investigations
- Law firm and litigation support
- Competitor and market intelligence
- Brand protection and online impersonation monitoring
- Government and intelligence agency collaboration
Our OSINT capabilities include detailed background checks, digital profiling, and comprehensive investigations into both people and companies.
Background and Digital Profiling Services
- Comprehensive biography analysis including date of birth, residence, nationality and other identifiers.
- Tracing online activities, preferences and personal interests.
- Investigating online identities, aliases and profiles.
- Mapping business and personal networks including relatives and associates.
- Collecting intelligence on email addresses, phone numbers, registered companies, property and financial indicators.
- Identifying digital footprints such as photos, videos, forum participation and media mentions.
- Uncovering ownership details of websites and blogs.
Specialised OSINT Services
- Social Media Investigations: Analysing posts, followers, friends, liked content and group participation to build behavioural and relational insights.
- Human Resources OSINT: Pre-employment checks across social media and public sources to identify inconsistencies or concerning behaviour.
- Competitor Analysis: Monitoring and evaluating competitor marketing, online activity and backlink sources to identify strategic trends.
- Online Reputation Management: Tracking potential threats, negative coverage and reputation risks for individuals or brands.
- Market Research: Collecting and interpreting publicly available information to support business intelligence needs.
As leaders in OSINT, Online Investigations Pty Ltd curates trusted open-source tools and Australian-specific resources, available via our dedicated Start.me page.