What does OSINT stand for in the context of cybersecurity?

Open Source Intelligence refers to the practice of collecting and analyzing publicly available information to inform various operations, including cybersecurity. In the context of cybersecurity, OSINT is crucial because it allows professionals to gather intelligence without the need for hacking or illicit means. This intelligence can be sourced from various platforms such as social media, websites, forums, and government publications.

Using OSINT can help identify potential threats, vulnerabilities, and the online behavior of malicious actors. By leveraging these open sources, cybersecurity analysts can perform risk assessments, enhance situational awareness, and even inform incident response protocols. Thus, the practice of OSINT is foundational for understanding and mitigating security risks in a proactive manner, allowing organizations to better protect their systems and data.