INVESTIGATION OF THE USE OF OSINT TECHNOLOGY AS A NEW THREAT OF DE-ANONYMIZED PERSONS ON THE INTERNET SPACE
Anastasiia Hlavatska, Oksana Anhelska, Ivan Opirskyy · Cybersecurity Education Science Technique · 2024
This article undertakes a thorough investigation of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) technology, which plays a significant role in modern information society by offering new methods for data collection and analysis. Special attention is given to analyzing the threats associated with the de-anonymization of individuals through the use of open information sources on the Internet. The use of OSINT allows the collection of vast amounts of data from various sources, such as social networks, forums, news sites, and other public resources, which can infringe on users' privacy. The methods of collecting information from open sources that can be used for de-anonymization of individuals are examined in detail. The potential privacy risks arising from access to large amounts of personal data are analyzed. Various aspects of the threats, including possibilities for fraud, manipulation, and even blackmail that may arise from the collection and analysis of open data, are discussed. It also considers how personal information published by users on the Internet can be used by malicious actors to carry out various types of attacks. The effectiveness of existing OSINT tools is assessed, and methods and practical examples of their use are presented. The article includes recommendations for improving digital security for users, including the enhancement of technical means of information protection and raising citizens' awareness of digital literacy. The possibilities of developing new approaches to ensuring digital security, particularly through legislative improvements and the formation of ethical standards for the use of OSINT, are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the regulatory and legal aspects of OSINT usage in Ukraine. The main legislative acts regulating the collection and processing of personal data, as well as the ethical principles that must be adhered to during OSINT investigations, are analyzed. Examples of violations of privacy rights and the legal consequences of such actions are considered. The article also highlights the practical aspects of using OSINT in the context of the war in Ukraine. It shows how OSINT technologies are used to detect and analyze the activities of malicious actors, track the movements and plans of the enemy. Examples of successful use of OSINT for identifying Russian war criminals and investigating war crimes are presented. The purpose of this article is to explore the capabilities of OSINT as a de-anonymization tool in the Internet space, analyze the potential risks to privacy, and develop recommendations for improving digital security. The result of the research is the identification of strategies and recommendations that can contribute to balancing national security and human rights in the digital space.