Intelligence-Gathering Disciplines (OSINT, IMINT, GEOINT, etc.)
If you spend any time in the intelligence community (IC), whether traditional intel (government/military) or cyber intel, you’ll run across various intelligence-gathering disciplines. They’re usually spelled in all caps and end with INT for intelligence. Below is a quick reference. Some of these disciplines overlap.
If you know of any others, please let me know.
BLOCKINT: Blockchain intelligence: Involves data about cryptocurrency transactions as recorded on a blockchain. A type of FININT.
COMINT: Communications intelligence. Involves data gathered by intercepting signals between people. A type of SIGINT.
CRIMINT: Criminal intelligence. Involves data about criminal activity and criminals, often gathered by law enforcement.
CYBINT/DNINT: Cyber intelligence/digital network intelligence. Involves data gathered from computer systems and networks.
DARKINT: Darknet intelligence: Involves data gathered on a darknet (e.g., Tor, I2P, Freenet). A type of OSINT.
ELINT: Electronic intelligence. Involves data gathered by intercepting signals between electronic systems. A type of SIGINT.
FININT: Financial intelligence. Involves data about financial activity, often acquired from financial institutions.
FISINT: Foreign instrumentation signals intelligence. Involves data gathered by intercepting signals between foreign electronic systems. A type of SIGINT.
GEOINT: Geospatial intelligence. Involves geographical data, typically from satellites.
HUMINT: Human intelligence. Involves data gathered by observing and talking to people.
IMINT: Image intelligence. Involves data from photos or other images.
MASINT: Measurement and signature intelligence. Involves measurement and signature data from sensors (radiofrequency, optical, magnetic, etc.).
OSINT: Open-source intelligence. Involves data from publicly available sources (social media, public records, search engines, metadata, etc.).
SIGINT: Signals intelligence. Involves data gathered by intercepting signals between people or electronic systems.
SOCMINT: Social media intelligence. Involves data from social media. A type of OSINT.
TECHINT: Technical intelligence. Involves technical data about equipment, technology, and weapons.
TELINT: Telemetry intelligence. Previous name of FSINT.
You may run across mentions of RUMINT, which is rumor intelligence, and involves data based on rumor. It’s a humorous play on HUMINT, not a real discipline.
You may also run across mentions of TRASHINT, which is trash intelligence, and involves data collected from garbage or recyclables (“Dumpster diving”). It’s a humorous play on the other INTs, not a real discipline.
Thanks to Sean O’Connor and Stephen Anderson for suggesting additions to my original list.
