What is the role of human intelligence in cyber threat intelligence?

The collection of HUMINT is a crucial aspect of intelligence gathering, especially in the realm of cybersecurity. HUMINT can be sourced from various channels and methods, each offering unique insights into cyber threat actors and their activities. OSINT involves gathering publicly available information from sources like online forums, social media, and news outlets. In contrast, CSINT involves accessing non-public information through authorized or unauthorized means. CSINT provides more in-depth and accurate data on threat actor capabilities, intentions, and plans. Additionally, HNINT is derived from direct or indirect interactions with human sources, offering valuable insights into threat actor behavior, psychology, and culture.

While closed-source intelligence (CSINT) alone cannot fully predict the actions of individual hackers, it can be a valuable tool for understanding common attack methods, identifying potential targets, and developing threat profiles. CSINT, combined with advanced security tools and the expertise of experienced cybersecurity professionals (HUMINT), can significantly improve an organization's ability to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats. On the other hand OSINT is out of question when it comes to security.

HUMINT, or human intelligence, plays a pivotal role in understanding and countering cyber threats, with its sources and methods being as diverse as the objectives they serve. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) leverages publicly accessible information from digital platforms like forums, social media, and news outlets, offering valuable insights into the behavior and strategies of cyber adversaries. This form of intelligence is crucial for piecing together the motivations and methods of threat actors.

Think of human intelligence (HUMINT) as your secret weapon against cyber villains. It's like gathering whispers from different corners of the internet to build a complete story. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is your public library of online chatter, revealing what cyber crooks are plotting. Closed-source intelligence (CSINT) is the hidden diary, offering exclusive peeks into their plans. And human network intelligence (HNINT) is the inside scoop from people, providing real-world insights into the villains' minds. Together, these pieces form a powerful puzzle that helps protect our digital universe from threats. It's detective work at its finest, where every piece of information can lead to a breakthrough. ???♂????? Its very costly

La recherche humaine est un des capteurs utilisé par les services de renseignement au même titre que le capteur technique et opérationnel. Ramené dans le monde des menaces cyber, la recherche humaine consiste à recruter des sources dans cet écosystème de la cyberdéfense et de la cybercriminalité afin de collecter du renseignement sur les sujets qui nous intéresse en relation avec les cyber menaces. Une source est une personne qui fournit de manière volontaire ou involontaire de l'information qu'il ne devrait pas diffuser en temps normal. Une fois de plus le milieu de la cybersécurité tente de s'emparer d'un sujet qu'il ne maitrise pas et qu'il pense régi par la technique et les outils.

How do you keep costs down & usefull Threat Intelligence ? Shifting from Open-source Intelligence (OSINT) to Adversary Generated Threat Intelligence (AGTI) responds to OSINT's challenge of filtering through vast data and false positives. AGTI offers a focused lens on cyber threats by tracking adversaries' digital footprints directly, promising sharper accuracy in identifying genuine threats. Threat Intelligence is dead, it cost lot of money qand not providing results

Navigating the realm of HUMINT in cybersecurity entails confronting a range of challenges and risks that necessitate careful consideration. Ethical and legal concerns are paramount when dealing with sensitive or protected information, as unauthorized access or mishandling of such data can lead to significant legal and reputational repercussions for an organization. Operational security is another critical aspect, particularly when engaging with closed sources or informants, where maintaining anonymity and leaving no digital footprint are essential to protect both the intelligence operation and the sources involved.

Human intelligence (HUMINT) in cyber threat intelligence (CTI) helps understand threat actors' behavior, verify intelligence, enhance attribution, and provide context. Challenges include source reliability, operational security, collection limitations, and ethical considerations. Managing these risks is crucial for effective threat mitigation.

En terme d'analogie, vous pourrez passer 20 ans à contempler une peinture en vous demandant ce que l'artiste a voulu exprimer, cela ne remplacera jamais les 5 minutes passées avec l'artiste qui vous explique son ressenti. Dans la cyber, c'est pareil, passez 10 minutes sur Qtox avec un cybercriminel et vous saurez pourquoi il a mené l'attaque, les outils qu'il a employé et surtout ce qu'il a fait des données.

Human Intelligence (HUMINT) in cybersecurity provides invaluable benefits by offering a nuanced understanding of threats, adaptability to evolving situations, access to insider information, credibility assessment, utilization of social engineering tactics, community engagement, and contributing to strategic decision-making. This human-centric approach enhances the effectiveness of intelligence gathering and strengthens cybersecurity measures, providing a flexible and comprehensive response to the dynamic nature of cyber threats.

? Define objectives and scope clearly to align HUMINT efforts with CTI goals. ? Assess sources and methods meticulously, considering credibility, access, and reliability. ? Integrate HUMINT findings with other intelligence types for a comprehensive threat landscape view. ? Cross-check and corroborate HUMINT information with multiple sources for validation. ? Provide training on effective communication, rapport-building, and ethical conduct to personnel involved. ? Implement security measures to protect operatives and sensitive information. ? Stay updated on emerging threats and trends in CTI for continuous improvement.

HUMINT's role, especially with Adversary Generated Threat Intelligence (AGTI), is set to grow. AGTI sharpens our focus ?? on cyber threats by directly tracking adversaries, enhancing the accuracy of intelligence. The future will see AI ?? and machine learning enriching HUMINT, offering deeper insights and predictive capabilities. The path forward is about adapting and upholding standards, ensuring our security measures evolve without compromising integrity. ?????

This comment is more for Corporations and not those in Law Enforcement or Federally authorized Intelligence agencies. HUMINT is valuable as a collection resource, but is highly restrictive without a legal authority. What could be considered is Counter-Intelligence (CI) activities. Corporations can use these defensive activities without much legal approvals. Many companies already have monitoring capabilities that users acknowledge through annual attestations, etc. CI activities in cybersecurity can provide great HUMINT collections, can be useful in understanding Insider Risks, External Attack Campaigns, allowing internal/external Cyber Threat Intelligence teams to identify future or in-progress threats. CI information is valuable.

Los analistas SOC son la primera línea de defensa. Su experiencia y juicio son cruciales para evaluar la gravedad de las amenazas. Comprenden el contexto y evalúan la credibilidad de las fuentes. Así, determinan las acciones adecuadas.