What can a digital trail reveal?

A photograph may hold clues to where it was taken. A public record can help establish when a business changed hands. Online activity can give context to an account or claim that warrants a closer look.

Finding and assessing information like this is at the heart of open source intelligence. The masterclass covered social media investigations, image tracing, geolocation, public records and data breaches.

Who led the masterclass?

The OSINT Group specialises in open source intelligence training. The course was delivered by Ben Owen, a former British intelligence operative who specialises in digital risk and online investigations, and Danni Brooke, a former undercover police officer with frontline experience in covert operations.

What this adds to Pulse’s private investigations service

Pulse Security Management provides discreet private and commercial investigations for individuals, businesses and legal professionals across Ireland. Depending on the case, our work can include surveillance, photographic documentation and written reporting. Explore our private investigation services.

When a lead is online, we can examine suspicious account activity, look into where an image first appeared, check whether public records support a timeline or assess what information has surfaced after a suspected breach. That can help you decide whether to report an issue, take action or look into it further.

Why we keep investing in training

Clients come to us with questions that can span both the physical and digital worlds. We invest in practical training so our team can follow those leads wherever the available evidence takes them and give clients a clear account of what we find.

Thank you to Ben Owen, Danni Brooke and The OSINT Group for delivering the masterclass, and to Pinterest for hosting us in Dublin.