Multi-stage information retrieval from the web

Finding Information Online Using OSINT Techniques

Searching for information online for OSINT purposes means systematically and critically utilizing publicly available sources. Effective information retrieval is a combination of technical skills, creative reasoning, and familiarity with the right tools. The goal is not just to find individual facts, but to understand how separate pieces of information relate to each other and form a larger whole.

This module involves practicing multi-stage information retrieval.

Answering the following questions requires searching for information using tools such as image searches (e.g., Google Lens), gaming databases, news archives, artist profiles, or public registries. Each answer serves as a clue for the next – just like in a real OSINT process, where each observation can open a new investigative pathway.

Remember: although all information is publicly available, combining it requires reasoning, source criticism, and an ethical approach. Information retrieval is a skill that can be learned by practicing to think like an investigative journalist, security expert – or digital detective.