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Jeff Minakata

In the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity, understanding the power of artificial intelligence in reconnaissance and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is crucial. This online course is designed for all levels of expertise, from beginners to seasoned professionals, who are eager to enhance their skills with cutting-edge AI tools specifically in the context of reconnaissance and OSINT applications.

Course Highlights:

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In the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity, understanding the power of artificial intelligence in reconnaissance and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is crucial. This online course is designed for all levels of expertise, from beginners to seasoned professionals, who are eager to enhance their skills with cutting-edge AI tools specifically in the context of reconnaissance and OSINT applications.

Course Highlights:

  • Sock Puppets: Learn how to create and manage anonymous online personas for effective intelligence gathering.

  • Virtual Machines (VMs): Explore the use of VMs for safe and isolated reconnaissance activities.

  • Photo Analysis: Understand techniques for analyzing images to extract valuable information.

  • AI Voice and Detection: Discover tools for voice synthesis and detection to enhance social engineering tactics.

  • Web Scraping (Basic): Get hands-on experience with basic web scraping techniques to gather data from various sources.

  • Social Engineering: Delve into AI-assisted social engineering strategies to improve your reconnaissance efforts.

  • Report Writing and Templates with AI: Learn how to efficiently compile your findings into professional reports using AI-generated templates.

  • Jailbreaking and Lying to AI: Explore advanced techniques for manipulating AI models to bypass restrictions and extract information.

  • Phishing with AI: Understand the ethical implications and methodologies of using AI in phishing simulations.

Prerequisites: This course is not recommended for those who have completed previous courses on similar topics, as many of the tools and techniques covered may overlap. If you're seeking a comprehensive introduction to ethical hacking or OSINT, please consider enrolling in my other courses.

Join us to unlock the potential of AI in reconnaissance and OSINT, and stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • About ai
  • Use of ai for reconnaissance
  • Use of ai for osint
  • Ethical considerations

Syllabus

Introduction
Introduction and expectations
Disclaimer and legal considerations
What is reconnaissance and OSINT
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores AI-assisted social engineering strategies, which can help cybersecurity professionals improve their reconnaissance efforts and stay ahead of emerging threats
Covers techniques for manipulating AI models to bypass restrictions, which is useful for professionals seeking to understand AI vulnerabilities and improve security measures
Includes report writing and templates with AI, which can help students efficiently compile findings into professional reports using AI-generated templates for academic purposes
Examines the ethical implications and methodologies of using AI in phishing simulations, which is crucial for cybersecurity professionals to understand and defend against such attacks
Requires learners to set up virtual machines, which may require additional technical skills and resources not readily available to all students, potentially creating a barrier
Explicitly advises against taking this course for those who have completed similar courses, which may limit its appeal to learners seeking a comprehensive overview of the topic

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Reviews summary

Ai tools for osint & reconnaissance

According to learners, this course provides a positive and broad introduction to leveraging AI for reconnaissance and OSINT. Students appreciate the coverage of various AI tools and platforms, finding the practical demonstrations and walkthroughs helpful for understanding applications in areas like sock puppets, VMs, photo analysis, and AI voice detection. Many feel it's a good starting point, especially for those new to the intersection of AI and OSINT. However, some reviews note that coverage of certain topics can feel shallow, and reliance on rapidly changing online tools means some content may quickly become outdated. While the instructor is often praised for their knowledge and passion, learners caution that the course is perhaps best suited for those with at least some prior background in cybersecurity or OSINT.
Better for those with some background.
"Despite the description, having some basic OSINT or cybersecurity knowledge is definitely helpful."
"I felt a bit lost in some parts without a stronger foundation in OSINT techniques first."
"More experienced learners might find parts too basic, while absolute beginners might struggle without context."
Instructor is knowledgeable and engaging.
"The instructor clearly knows their stuff and is passionate about the topic."
"I found the instructor's explanations clear and easy to understand."
"Great insights provided by the instructor based on their experience."
Hands-on examples aid understanding.
"The demos were the most useful part, showing how the tools actually work in practice."
"Seeing the instructor use the AI tools step-by-step made it much easier to follow."
"I liked the practical examples provided, they really helped solidify the concepts."
Covers many tools and concepts broadly.
"This course is a great high-level overview of how AI can be used in OSINT."
"It touched on many different tools and techniques, which was helpful for seeing the possibilities."
"I got a good sense of the landscape of AI tools applicable to reconnaissance from this course."
Some topics lack sufficient detail.
"While it covers a lot, I wish some topics like web scraping or deepfakes were explored in more depth."
"It gives you a taste of many things but doesn't dive deep into any specific tool or technique."
"Felt like some sections just scratched the surface and could benefit from more detailed explanation."
Some tools mentioned are quickly outdated.
"Some of the specific websites and tools demonstrated had changed or were no longer available by the time I took the course."
"Keeping up with the rapid changes in AI tools is hard, and some parts of the course already feel a bit dated."
"The course relies heavily on third-party tools that evolve constantly, making maintenance a challenge."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in AI for Reconnaissance and OSINT with these activities:
Review Ethical Hacking Fundamentals
Reinforce your understanding of ethical hacking principles to better grasp the ethical considerations discussed in the course.
Browse courses on Ethical Hacking
Show steps
  • Review basic hacking concepts.
  • Study common attack vectors.
  • Familiarize yourself with ethical guidelines.
Review 'Open Source Intelligence Techniques'
Deepen your understanding of OSINT techniques to enhance your reconnaissance skills.
Show steps
  • Read the book's introduction and overview.
  • Focus on chapters related to web scraping and social media intelligence.
  • Take notes on key techniques and tools.
Build a Sock Puppet Persona
Practice creating and managing an anonymous online persona to understand the practical aspects of sock puppets for intelligence gathering.
Show steps
  • Create a new email address and social media profiles.
  • Populate the profiles with realistic information and activity.
  • Use the persona to gather information on a specific topic.
  • Document the process and challenges encountered.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Follow a Web Scraping Tutorial
Refine your web scraping skills by following a tutorial that covers advanced techniques and tools.
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on web scraping with Python and Beautiful Soup.
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step, scraping data from a website.
  • Adapt the code to scrape data from a different website.
Review 'Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking'
Gain a deeper understanding of social engineering principles to better understand AI-assisted social engineering strategies.
View Human Hacking on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book's introduction and key chapters on persuasion and influence.
  • Identify examples of how AI could be used to enhance the techniques described.
  • Reflect on the ethical implications of using these techniques.
Write a Report on AI-Driven Phishing
Solidify your understanding of AI's role in phishing by creating a detailed report outlining the techniques and ethical considerations.
Show steps
  • Research current AI-driven phishing techniques.
  • Analyze the ethical implications of using AI in phishing simulations.
  • Outline potential countermeasures and defenses.
  • Compile your findings into a professional report.
Practice AI Jailbreaking Techniques
Reinforce your understanding of AI jailbreaking by practicing techniques to bypass restrictions and extract information from AI models.
Show steps
  • Research common AI jailbreaking techniques.
  • Experiment with different prompts and inputs to bypass restrictions.
  • Document your findings and the effectiveness of each technique.

Career center

Learners who complete AI for Reconnaissance and OSINT will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Open Source Intelligence Analyst
An Open Source Intelligence Analyst gathers and analyzes publicly available information to produce actionable intelligence. This course directly supports the role of an Open Source Intelligence Analyst by imparting knowledge on reconnaissance and OSINT, enhanced by AI. The course's emphasis on AI-driven web scraping, photo analysis, and social engineering techniques provides practical skills for gathering and interpreting information from various online sources. Furthermore, the training on sock puppets enables analysts to conduct investigations discreetly and effectively. Finally, the course provides familiarity with AI report writing.
Intelligence Analyst
An Intelligence Analyst gathers and analyzes information to support decision-making in various sectors. This course directly benefits an Intelligence Analyst by providing them with the skills to leverage AI in reconnaissance and OSINT. The course's focus on AI-driven web scraping, photo analysis, and social engineering techniques equips analysts with the tools to gather and interpret information from diverse sources. Furthermore, the training on sock puppets enables analysts to conduct investigations discreetly and effectively. The course may be particularly useful for report writing. Often these roles require an advanced degree.
Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst
A Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst identifies, analyzes, and mitigates potential cybersecurity threats. This course on AI for Reconnaissance and OSINT helps build skills in using AI tools to gather and analyze data from various sources, including the dark web. Skills in using AI to write programs may be helpful for automation. The course's focus on reconnaissance, OSINT, and AI-driven analysis directly translates to a Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst's ability to proactively identify and address emerging threats. Analysts will be able to leverage AI for report writing based on the course, as part of their professional reporting.
Penetration Tester
A Penetration Tester simulates cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks. This course enhances the abilities of a Penetration Tester by introducing AI-driven tools and methodologies for reconnaissance and OSINT. The course's modules on AI for social engineering, phishing simulations, and jailbreaking AI models provide a Penetration Tester with the tools and insights to conduct more sophisticated and realistic attacks. Furthermore, the knowledge of AI-driven report writing and coding helps streamline and automate the reporting process, allowing the tester to focus on identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities. This course enables a tester to assess the potential for using AI to execute attacks.
Digital Forensics Analyst
A Digital Forensics Analyst investigates cybercrimes and analyzes digital evidence to identify perpetrators and understand the nature of attacks. This course prepares a Digital Forensics Analyst to use AI techniques for enhanced investigations. The course's coverage of AI-driven photo analysis, video enhancement, and geolocation techniques enables analysts to extract valuable information from digital media. The course may also assist with report writing. The insights into AI-generated content detection aid in identifying manipulated or falsified evidence. By understanding how AI can be used to create and detect fraudulent content, a Digital Forensics Analyst can ensure the integrity of digital evidence in investigations.
Corporate Investigator
A Corporate Investigator investigates internal and external threats to a company. This course prepares a Corporate Investigator to navigate the complex landscape of AI-driven reconnaissance and OSINT. The course's coverage of AI-driven photo analysis, video enhancement, and geolocation techniques enables the Corporate Investigator to analyze digital media for crucial insights, while the understanding of AI-generated content detection aids in identifying manipulated or falsified evidence. The course also discusses the use of AI for report writing. In addition, instruction on sock puppets can help conceal the investigator's identity.
Fraud Analyst
A Fraud Analyst investigates fraudulent activities and develops strategies to prevent future occurrences. This course helps a Fraud Analyst use AI tools for enhanced fraud detection and prevention. The coverage of AI-driven social engineering, deepfakes, and phishing simulations provides insights into the tactics used by fraudsters. The knowledge of AI-driven photo analysis and geolocation techniques enables analysts to identify and track fraudulent actors more effectively. The course also explores the use of AI for report writing, which will be valuable to the Fraud Analyst when they prepare findings.
Security Consultant
A Security Consultant advises organizations on cybersecurity best practices, risk management, and security solutions. This course helps a Security Consultant stay ahead of emerging threats and provide informed recommendations to clients. The course's exploration of AI in reconnaissance, OSINT, and social engineering tactics equips consultants with the knowledge to assess vulnerabilities and design strategies to mitigate risks effectively. Moreover, the understanding of ethical considerations and legal implications in using AI for security purposes ensures responsible and compliant consulting practices. The course will also explain how AI can be used for report writing.
Due Diligence Investigator
A Due Diligence Investigator conducts investigations to assess the risks and integrity of individuals or organizations. This course may be useful to a Due Diligence Investigator by enhancing their skills in using AI for reconnaissance and OSINT. The course's focus on AI-driven web scraping, photo analysis, and social engineering techniques provides investigators with the tools to gather and interpret information from various sources. Furthermore, the training on sock puppets enables investigators to conduct investigations discreetly and effectively. The course may be helpful for writing professional reports.
Information Security Analyst
An Information Security Analyst protects an organization's data and systems from cyber threats. This course may be useful to an Information Security Analyst looking to leverage AI for enhanced security measures. The course's focus on AI-driven reconnaissance, threat intelligence, and vulnerability analysis provides the skills to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks. By understanding how AI can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes, an Information Security Analyst can develop more robust security strategies to protect against evolving threats. The report writing features discussed will make this employee more valuable.
Compliance Officer
A Compliance Officer ensures an organization adheres to laws and regulations. This course can help a Compliance Officer understand the risks associated with emerging technologies, particularly AI. The course's exploration of AI-driven reconnaissance, social engineering, and phishing tactics provides Compliance Officers with the knowledge to assess vulnerabilities and design strategies to mitigate risks effectively. Moreover, the understanding of ethical considerations and legal implications in using AI for security purposes ensures responsible and compliant practices. The course may also be useful for report writing.
Counterintelligence Agent
A Counterintelligence Agent identifies and neutralizes threats from foreign intelligence services. This course may be useful to a Counterintelligence Agent seeking to enhance their skills in using AI for reconnaissance and OSINT. The course's exploration of AI-driven social engineering, deepfakes, and phishing simulations provides insights into the tactics used by adversaries. The knowledge of AI-driven photo analysis and geolocation techniques enables agents to identify and track potential threats more effectively. The course may also be useful for report writing. These roles often require an advanced degree.
Public Policy Analyst
A Public Policy Analyst helps develop policies that shape the future. This course can help a Public Policy Analyst, especially concerning AI-generated text, images, voice, and video. Skills in sock puppets may also be beneficial for conducting research within particular online communities. The course will teach about AI-driven reconnaissance, providing insight into the techniques involved in extracting data via AI. The course will also teach skills in report writing.
Market Research Analyst
A Market Research Analyst studies market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. This course can help build the skills of a Market Research Analyst. The course's exploration of AI-driven reconnaissance, social engineering, and sentiment analysis provides Market Research Analysts with the knowledge to assess vulnerabilities and design strategies to mitigate risks effectively. Moreover, the understanding of ethical considerations and legal implications in using AI for security purposes ensures responsible and compliant practices. The course will teach how to use AI for report writing, as well as understanding code, which may be useful for automation.
Public Relations Specialist
A Public Relations Specialist manages an organization's public image and communications. This course may be useful to a Public Relations Specialist, especially concerning AI-generated text, images, voice, and video. Skills in analyzing AI generated content could improve an organization's media response. The course will teach about AI-driven reconnaissance, providing insight into the techniques involved in extracting data via AI. The course will also teach skills in report writing. The course covers ethical uses of AI, and can help improve a campaign's messaging.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in AI for Reconnaissance and OSINT.
Provides a comprehensive guide to OSINT techniques, covering a wide range of tools and methodologies. It is particularly useful for understanding the practical applications of OSINT in reconnaissance. The book serves as a valuable reference for students looking to deepen their knowledge of OSINT beyond the course material. It is commonly used by industry professionals and cybersecurity enthusiasts.
Delves into the psychology and techniques behind social engineering attacks. It provides valuable insights into how AI can be used to enhance social engineering tactics. It is more valuable as additional reading to provide a deeper understanding of the human element in cybersecurity. This book is commonly used by security professionals and ethical hackers.

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