Red Team OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence for Reconnaissance — PickAClass
⏱ 3h 15m 📚 29 lessons 🎧 Audio version

Red Team OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence for Reconnaissance

Learn foundational open-source intelligence techniques to identify targets and gather critical information for red team reconnaissance.

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About this course

Effective red team operations begin long before any direct engagement, with thorough reconnaissance. Mastering open-source intelligence (OSINT) is crucial for understanding your targets and planning successful simulated attacks. This course equips you with the essential knowledge and practical skills to perform comprehensive OSINT, enabling you to identify vulnerabilities, map target infrastructure, and gather critical intelligence from publicly available sources, laying the groundwork for any red team exercise. By the end of this course, you will be able to: * Understand the fundamental principles of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and its critical role in red team reconnaissance. * Learn to identify and utilize diverse public data sources, including social media, public records, and web archives, for target profiling. * Apply effective techniques for passive information gathering, mapping target infrastructure, and discovering potential vulnerabilities. * Practice structuring and documenting collected intelligence to inform strategic planning for simulated attacks. * Grasp the ethical guidelines and legal boundaries associated with conducting OSINT for red team operations. The course begins with foundational concepts and ethical considerations of OSINT, progressing through practical methods for data collection and analysis. You will then learn to apply these techniques to identify and profile targets, culminating in the organization of intelligence for red team engagement planning. This course is designed for absolute beginners interested in offensive security, red teaming, or cybersecurity reconnaissance, with no prior experience required. Begin your journey into the world of red team intelligence gathering today.

Course contents

6 modules · 29 lessons · 3h 15m

1 Foundations of Red Team OSINT
Understand the core concepts, the role of OSINT in attacks, and the rules of the game.
5 lessons · 35 min
  1. What is OSINT?
    Define OSINT and its importance in the modern digital landscape.
    6 min
  2. OSINT in the Red Team Lifecycle
    Explain how reconnaissance fits into the stages of a simulated attack.
    7 min
  3. The Ethical Red Teamer
    Establish the moral framework for conducting reconnaissance responsibly.
    7 min
  4. Legal Boundaries & Privacy
    Navigate the laws regarding data privacy and unauthorized access.
    7 min
  5. Setting Up Your OSINT Lab
    Prepare a safe environment (browsers, VPNs, accounts) for gathering data.
    8 min
2 Mining Public Data Sources
Learn where to find information and how to extract it effectively.
5 lessons · 32 min
  1. Leveraging Public Records
    Find business registrations, property records, and legal filings.
    6 min
  2. Time Travel with Web Archives
    Use the Wayback Machine to find deleted or historical site information.
    6 min
  3. Google Dorking Fundamentals
    Use advanced search operators to find hidden files and directories.
    7 min
  4. Advanced Dorking for Red Teams
    Target specific file types like PDFs or configuration files for leaks.
    7 min
  5. Specialized OSINT Databases
    Explore niche databases for WHOIS, DNS, and corporate data.
    6 min
3 Infrastructure Reconnaissance
Map the technical footprint of the target organization.
5 lessons · 33 min
  1. The Art of Passive Gathering
    Gather technical data without ever touching the target's servers.
    7 min
  2. DNS & Domain Intelligence
    Uncover subdomains and mail server configurations.
    7 min
  3. IP Space & Network Discovery
    Identify the target's IP ranges and hosting providers.
    7 min
  4. Cloud Footprint OSINT
    Identify publicly accessible S3 buckets or cloud instances.
    6 min
  5. Visualizing the Digital Perimeter
    Create a map of the target's external-facing assets.
    6 min
4 People & Social Intelligence (SOCMINT)
Profile the individuals within the organization to find weak links.
5 lessons · 33 min
  1. SOCMINT Foundations
    Understand how social media reveals organizational secrets.
    6 min
  2. Profiling Key Personnel
    Build a profile of high-value targets using public posts.
    7 min
  3. Professional Networks (LinkedIn)
    Extract tech stack and hierarchy info from job descriptions.
    7 min
  4. Hidden Data in Metadata
    Extract user info and software versions from public documents.
    7 min
  5. Identifying Internal Culture
    Use employee reviews and forums to find internal frustrations.
    6 min
5 Analysis & Vulnerability Discovery
Turn raw data into actionable security insights.
4 lessons · 30 min
  1. Spotting OSINT Vulnerabilities
    Identify misconfigurations or exposed data that lead to breaches.
    8 min
  2. Credential Leaks & Breaches
    Search for leaked passwords associated with target domains.
    8 min
  3. Analyzing the Tech Stack
    Determine software versions and potential CVEs from OSINT.
    7 min
  4. Data Correlation Techniques
    Connect dots between different data points to find patterns.
    7 min
6 Reporting & Strategic Planning
Organize your findings to plan the next steps of the operation.
5 lessons · 32 min
  1. Structuring Your Intelligence
    Categorize data into infrastructure, people, and vulnerabilities.
    6 min
  2. Effective OSINT Documentation
    Learn tools and formats for recording evidence and sources.
    6 min
  3. From OSINT to Attack Vectors
    Translate intelligence into specific social engineering or technical paths.
    7 min
  4. Strategic Planning for Attacks
    Prioritize targets based on the gathered intelligence.
    7 min
  5. The Final Recon Report
    Compile a professional summary for the red team lead.
    6 min
Final project

Operation: Ghost Footprint

You are tasked with performing a full OSINT investigation on a fictional startup, 'CloudNexus'. You must map their infrastructure, identify three key employees, and find at least two potential entry points for an attack.

What you'll get

  • 📜 Certificate of completion
    Add it to your LinkedIn profile
  • 💬 Personal AI tutor
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  • 🎧 Audio version included
    Learn on the go — no screen needed
  • ♾️ Lifetime access
    Come back anytime, no expiry
  • 📱 Phone or computer
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  • 💸 14-day refund
    No questions asked
  • ⚡ Short & focused
    3h 15m of practical content

Certificate of completion

Every course you complete on PickAClass issues a credential like this — original, with its own code, verifiable by URL, and detailed about what was actually demonstrated.

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Certificate of Mastery
This certifies that
Name Surname
has successfully demonstrated mastery of
Red Team OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence for Reconnaissance
Skills demonstrated
✓
Behavioral pattern analysis
Foundational
1.2 hrs
✓
Decision-architecture frameworks
Proficient
1.4 hrs
✓
A/B test design
Proficient
1.7 hrs
✓
Behavioral copywriting
Advanced
1.9 hrs
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PickAClass — Name Surname
Red Team OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence for Reconnaissance
Page 2 of 2
Performance detail
Coursework summary
Lessons completed 14 / 14
Practice questions 26 / 28
Assignments submitted 4 (avg 4.5 / 5)
Capstone project Reviewed — 4.6 / 5
Total practice 6.2 hrs
Performance benchmark
Cohort rank Top 12% of 1,625
Time to completion 11 days (median: 22)
Mastery score 91 / 100
Practice-question score 94%
Skill verification Verified Skill Path
Verify this credential
pickaclass.com/certificates/PCC-2026-X4F7-AP19
Issued under the academic standards of PickAClass. Skill levels reflect assessed performance against the course's competency rubric. This is an original credential of this platform.

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