Solving a REAL investigation using OSINT

About this video

• Video Title: Solving a REAL investigation using OSINT
• Channel: The Intel Lab
• Speakers: Gary
• Duration: 00:19:03

Overview

This video demonstrates a practical application of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques used to geolocate an image for a private investigator. The speaker, Gary, walks through his process of analyzing visual clues within the image, performing reverse image searches, and eventually identifying the location as "Halo Lounge," a shisha bar in Leeds, UK.

Key takeaways

• Initial Clues: The video begins with an image uploaded to Instagram on November 29th, 2022, during the FIFA World Cup, providing a timeframe and context.
• Reverse Image Search Limitations: Standard reverse image searches on Google, Yandex, and Bing proved ineffective due to the image's low quality and generic content.
• Deductive Analysis: By breaking down the image into foreground, middle ground, and background, the speaker identified key elements: a shisha pipe, a TV displaying a football match, wall paneling with black beams, and a sliding door/window.
• Geographic Assumption: The initial client's postcode in Leeds, UK, led to a narrowed search area.
• Identifying the Location: Combining the visual clues (shisha bar, specific interior design elements) with the geographic assumption, the speaker searched for "Leeds Shisha bars" and identified "Halo Lounge" as a strong contender.
• Confirmation: Further analysis of Halo Lounge's Instagram profile, including a video, provided visual confirmation of the interior matching the original image, including the distinctive roof curvature, wall beams, and sliding door/window. Street view imagery of the exterior further corroborated the location.