Handbook

OSINT resources for investigators

Intelligence with Steve presents

Practical guides, workflows and reference material for internet investigations, public records, social media research, analysis and investigative tradecraft.

Watch an investigation build Browse the handbook

Field briefing One clue. Several signals.

Use the handbook to turn fragments into a clear investigative picture.

Risk signalNeeds checking

Possible matchCorroborate

✓

Verified linkMultiple sources

People

Businesses

Locations

Guided investigation

Watch one clue become an investigation.

The handbook breaks this process down into repeatable steps: start with a clue, pivot carefully, corroborate the result, then explain confidence.

Initial leadA name and location gives the investigation a starting point.

Username pivotThe same handle appears across more than one platform.

Public record

Company directorCompany filings create a business link and further addresses.

Property clue

Planning applicationA public planning record connects the subject to a location.

Scroll to watch a simple lead become an intelligence picture.

Starting points

Where does your investigation begin?

Choose the clue you have and the handbook shows the next sensible pivots.

Suggested workflow

Name

Inside the handbook

Guides built around real investigative pivots.

Each guide starts with a clue, then shows how to turn it into useful intelligence through structured research, source selection and careful analysis.

People research

From name to identity

Resolve names, aliases, locations, family links and profile matches.

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Social media

Username pivots

Follow handles across platforms, archives, breach data and public profiles.

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Public records

Companies, property and courts

Use public datasets to validate identity, map associations and add context.

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Analysis

Build the picture

Turn fragments into timelines, link charts, hypotheses and intelligence notes.

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Tradecraft

Search better

Practical search methods, collection planning, source grading and documentation.

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Responsible OSINT

Stay proportionate

Ethical, legal and operational considerations for open-source investigations.

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Visual methods

Turn fragments into a picture.

Choose the visual method that matches the problem: sequence events, map relationships, build subject and business profiles, assess locations or explain the evidence.

Sequence

Timeline

Separate the lead, source, verification step and assessment so the investigation has a clear sequence.

Featured case file

One address. Several public records. A clearer picture.

A practical example of how a single location can lead to residents, companies, planning applications, probate references and useful timelines.

How the guide unfolds

1. Start with the addressStandardise spelling, formatting and historic variants.

2. Identify possible residentsOpen register, companies, probate, planning records and public mentions.

3. Build a timelineSeparate confirmed records from possible matches and unresolved leads.

4. Record confidenceExplain what is known, what is inferred and what still needs checking.

Browse the handbook

Explore the OSINT Handbook.

Work through structured OSINT guides by module, or jump directly to the topic you need.

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OSINTHandbook