OSINT Books

In this repository, you will find a short list of books on various OSINT tools and techniques, the use of OSINT in different fields (cybersecurity, recruiting), and the psychological aspects of investigations.

We tried to select books from the 2020s, but there are a few older books that contain little technical information that quickly becomes outdated.

Title	Author	Author's social media	Year	Link
Hunting Cyber Criminals: A Hacker’s Guide to Online Intelligence Gathering Tools and Techniques	Vinny Troia	Linkedin	2020	https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1119540925/
Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence	Katherine H. Pherson, Randolph H. Pherson		2020	https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1544374267
Open Source Investigations in the Age of Google	Henrietta Wilson, Olamide Samuel, Dan Plesch	Linkedin	2024	https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0D6QRD8LG
Deep Dive: Exploring the Real-world Value of Open Source Intelligence	Rae L. Baker	Linkedin	2023	https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1119933242/
Deep Insight: AI for the Intelligence Analyst	Rae L. Baker	Linkedin	2026	https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Insight-AI-Intelligence-Analyst/dp/1394345046/
OSINT: The Authoritative Guide to Due Diligence	Cynthia Hetherington	Linkedin	2024	https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1960299425/
The Intelligence Bible: A comprehensive guide to intelligence	Oliver Wright		2024	https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0DPGFZ3MB/
Digital Witness: Using Open Source Information for Human Rights Investigation, Documentation, and Accountability	Sam Dubberley, Alexa Koenig, Daragh Murray	Linkedin	2020	https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0198836074/
Extreme Privacy: What It Takes to Disappear	Michael Bazzell	Linkedin	2024	https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0DCJN61GF/
OSINT Techniques: Resources for Uncovering Online Information	Michael Bazzell	Linkedin	2024	https://www.amazon.com/OSINT-Techniques-Resources-Uncovering-Information/dp/B0DMSPTCFD/
Operator Handbook: Red Team + OSINT + Blue Team Reference	Joshua Picolet		2021(?)	https://www.amazon.sa/-/en/Operator-Handbook-Team-OSINT-Reference/dp/B085RR67H5
We Are Bellingcat: Global Crime, Online Sleuths, and the Bold Future of News	Eliot Higgins	Linkedin	2021	https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Bellingcat-Global-Sleuths/dp/1635577306
Psychology of Intelligence Analysis	Richards J. Heuer Jr.		2007	https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Intelligence-Analysis-Richards-Heuer/dp/B0016OST3O
Hack the World with OSINT	Chris Kubecka	Linkedin	2019	https://www.amazon.sa/-/en/Hack-World-OSINT-Hackers-Gonna/dp/0995687595
Open Source Intelligence Methods and Tools: A Practical Guide to Online Intelligence	Nihad A Hassan	Linkedin	2018	https://www.amazon.sa/-/en/Apress-Source-Intelligence-Methods-Tools/dp/1484232127
The Tao of Open Source Intelligence	Stewart Bertram	Linkedin	2015	https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Open-Source-Intelligence-ebook/dp/B00X7LE7NK
The Open Source Intelligence Guide	Thomas Caliendo	Linkedin	2022	https://www.amazon.com/Open-Source-Intelligence-Guide-Investigate-ebook/dp/B0BMXRTG7P
Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy	Mark M. Lowenthal	Linkedin	2003	https://www.amazon.com/Intelligence-Secrets-Mark-M-Lowenthal/dp/1568027591
Image & Geolocation Intelligence: Reverse Searching and Mapping	Algoryth Ryker		2025	https://www.amazon.com/Image-Geolocation-Intelligence-Searching-Techniques/dp/B0F1Y9NLXQ
OSINT tools in local government: So what can be checked?	Mateusz Wójtowicz		2020	https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RGR6WHP
The Internet Intelligence & Investigation Handbook: A Practical Guide to Internet Investigation	Steve Adams	Linkedin	2021	https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0961BXYPS
Investigators Guide to Open Source Intelligence	Craig Pedersen	Linkedin	?	https://books.osint.co.za/investigators-guide-to-osint
The Open Source Intelligence Guide: How to Investigate Anyone or Anything on the Internet	Tom Caliendo	Linkedin	2022	https://www.amazon.com/Open-Source-Intelligence-Guide-Investigate-ebook/dp/B0BMXRTG7P/
Offensive Intelligence: 300 techniques, tools, and tips to know everything about everyone, in companies and elsewhere	Philippe Dylewski	Linkedin	2021	https://www.amazon.com/Offensive-Intelligence-techniques-everything-companies/dp/B09LWPCRV7
Hacking Web Intelligence: Open Source Intelligence and Web Reconnaissance Concepts and Techniques	Sudhanshu Chauhan	Linkedin	2015	https://www.amazon.com/Hacking-Web-Intelligence-Reconnaissance-Techniques-ebook/dp/B00ZAOBUQ4
Down the Rabbit Hole an OSINT Journey: Open Source Intelligence Gathering for Penetration Testing	Chris Kubecka	Linkedin	2017	https://www.amazon.com/Down-Rabbit-Hole-OSINT-Journey/dp/0995687544
OSINT For The Staffing World!	Dean Da Costa	Linkedin	2019	https://www.amazon.com/OSINT-Staffing-World-Dean-Costa-ebook/dp/B07W3JRW5Y
OFFENSIVE INTELLIGENCE: 300 techniques, tools and tips to know everything about everyone, in business and beyond	Philippe Dylewski	Linkedin	2025	https://www.amazon.com/OFFENSIVE-INTELLIGENCE-techniques-everything-2025-2026/dp/B0DTV5JKZS/
Inteligência e Investigação Criminal em Fontes Abertas	Emerson Wendt	Linkedin	2024	https://www.editorabrasport.com.br/inteligencia-e-investigacao-criminal-em-fontes-abertas-4ed
OSINT in the intelligence era	Gianluigi Me	Linkedin	2023	https://www.amazon.com/OSINT-Intelligence-Era-Lecture-notes-ebook/dp/B0CFZPL8NY

German OSINT books

Title	Author	Author's social media	Year	Link
OSINT. Wie Sie Informationen finden, verifizieren und verknüpfen	Samuel Lolagar	Linkedin	2026	https://www.rheinwerk-verlag.de/osint-wie-sie-informationen-finden-verifizieren-und-verknupfen/
Basiswissen OSINT: Eine Einführung in Open Source Intelligence	Mark B.		2023	https://www.amazon.com/Basiswissen-OSINT-Einf%C3%BChrung-Source-Intelligence-ebook/dp/B0BX4JJ2HG
OSINT : Die Kunst, offene Informationen zu sammeln: Digitale Gesellschaft : Der wachsende Einfluss der Online-Informationssammlung	David Anderson		2023	https://www.amazon.com/OSINT-Informationen-Gesellschaft-wachsende-Online-Informationssammlung-ebook/dp/B0CGXVWKQY/
OSINT: Bürger ermitteln im Internet (Geheimdienste 15)	Georg Erwin Thaller		2023	https://www.amazon.com/OSINT-B%C3%BCrger-ermitteln-Internet-Geheimdienste-ebook/dp/B0BTBV2MNG/
Von der OSINT-Analyse zur Social-Engineering-Attacke: Wie frei verfügbare Informationen zu realen Sicherheitsrisiken werden	Jörg Weidemann		2026	https://www.amazon.com/Von-OSINT-Analyse-Social-Engineering-Attacke-Informationen-Sicherheitsrisiken-ebook/dp/B0GRGMVYJ1/
Jäger der Digitalen Schatten: Wie OSINT Analysten Menschen im Internet aufspüren	Michael Harms		2023	https://www.amazon.com/J%C3%A4ger-Digitalen-Schatten-Analysten-aufsp%C3%BCren-ebook/dp/B0CF2GRP9D/
Satellitenbilder und Open-Source-Intelligence in Konflikten: Transparenz, Deutung und die neue Macht öffentlicher Beweise	Anna Keller		2026	https://www.amazon.com/Satellitenbilder-Open-Source-Intelligence-Konflikten-Transparenz-%C3%B6ffentlicher/dp/3565371773/

Investigative Journalism Books

Title	Author	Author's social media	Year	Link
Hybrid Investigative Journalism	Maria Konow-Lund, Michelle Park, Saba Bebawi	Linkedin	2024	https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-41939-3
Story-Based Inquiry: A Manual for Investigative Journalists	Mark Lee Hunter	Linkedin	2009	https://www.storybasedinquiry.com/manual
Digging Deeper: A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans	Sheila Coronel	Linkedin	2012	https://www.amazon.com/Digging-Deeper-Investigative-Journalists-ebook/dp/B007FQEE0Y
Verification Handbook For Disinformation And Media Manipulation	Craig Silverman	Linkedin	2020	https://datajournalism.com/read/handbook/verification-3
Investigative Journalism Handbook	Al Jazeera Media Institute	Linkedin	2020	https://institute.aljazeera.net/sites/default/files/2020/Investigative%20Journalism%20Handbook_0.pdf
The Hidden Scenario	Luuk Sengers, Mark Lee Hunter	Linkedin	2019	https://tcij.org/handbooks/the-hidden-scenario/
The Global investigative journalism casebook	Mark Lee Hunter	Linkedin	2012	https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000217636
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM : A Contemporary Practice and Practical Guide to Investigative and Interpretative Reporting	John Asegiemhe	Linkedin	2022	https://www.amazon.com/INVESTIGATIVE-JOURNALISM-Contemporary-Investigative-Interpretative-ebook/dp/B0BR2NVXPF/
Citizen Investigation Guide	Global Investigation Journalism Network	Linkedin	2019	https://gijn.org/resource/citizen-investigation-guide/
The Investigative Journalist’s Guide to Company Accounts	Raj Bairoliya	Linkedin	2014	https://tcij.org/handbooks/the-investigative-journalists-guide-to-company-accounts/
Investigative Reporter's Handbook: A Guide to Documents, Databases, and Techniques	Brant Houston	Linkedin	2020	https://www.amazon.co.uk/Investigative-Reporters-Handbook-Documents-Techniques/dp/1319102840/
The Science Writers’ Investigative Reporting Handbook	Liza Gross	Linkedin	2018	https://www.nasw.org/bookstore/science-writers-investigative-reporting-handbook
Investigative Practice	Tom Sanderson	Linkedin	2018	https://tcij.org/handbooks/investigative-practice/
The Story Tells the Facts	Luuk Sengers, Mark Lee Hunter	Linkedin	2019	https://tcij.org/handbooks/the-story-tells-the-facts/
Watchdog Journalism: The Art of Investigative Reporting	Stephen J. Berry		2008	https://www.amazon.com/Watchdog-Journalism-Art-Investigative-Reporting/dp/0195374029
Investigative Journalism: A Survival Guide	David Leigh		2019	https://www.amazon.com/Investigative-Journalism-Survival-David-Leigh-ebook/dp/B07XQ67JG3/
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM - Revised New Edition: A Professional Handbook for Candidate and Early-Career Journalists	Osman Karakas	Linkedin	2025	https://www.amazon.com/INVESTIGATIVE-JOURNALISM-Professional-Early-Career-Journalists-ebook/dp/B0FFZSP5WL/
Global Muckraking: 100 Years of Investigative Journalism from Around the World	Anya Schiffrin	Linkedin	2014	https://www.amazon.com/Global-Muckraking-Investigative-Journalism-Around-ebook/dp/B00J1K3TKI/
Breaking News: A Guide to Investigative Journalism	Liam Robert Mullen		2024	https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-News-Guide-Investigative-Journalism-ebook/dp/B0CW1FSFXH/