Where is Gary? │ OSINT Challenge #6

Introduction

Gary Ruddell is a Cyber Threat Intelligence professional operating at the front lines of cyberspace, he is also a veteran of the Royal Navy and Army Intelligence.

Find out more about Gary here .

Reason for Sharing

LinkedIn is for me, all about thought provoking content, Gary has recently started to share OSINT challenges. Below I shall outline a little bit about OSINT, and how I was able to get my head around another one of Gary's Challenge.

I am not a fan of using Google Reverse, Google Lens, or other tools, unless absolutely required, I like to give my brain a full work-out first. Complex investigations, and intelligence gathering is sometimes not always available online, utilizing my analytical skills is far more challenging, and rewarding.

What is OSINT?

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is the collection and analysis of data gathered from open sources (covert sources and publicly available information ''PAI'') to produce actionable intelligence.

OSINT is primarily used in national security, law enforcement, and business intelligence functions and is of value to analysts who use non-sensitive intelligence in answering classified, unclassified, or proprietary intelligence requirements across the previous intelligence disciplines.

The Challenge

OSINT Challenge #6 by Gary Ruddell .

One of my favourite songs to play on my guitar is Under the Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Can you figure out what bridge I am under?

#GarysOsintChallenge

Step 1: Photo Analysis

The photo above actually holds several clues, as mentioned before, buildings rarely change, so for me the clues are in the buildings.

My Assumptions

• Gary has been in Amsterdam, from a challenge posted previously, see my newsletter here .
• I assume Gary is still in Amsterdam, this is due to another bridge challenge at the weekend .
• Gary is on a boat, however, from reflections in the glass above, this indicates people might be sat opposite one another, at tables, like a tourist boat, you will see the man's hand on his knee facing inwards, rather than forwards towards the bow (front).
• I have also noticed a reflection of a map on a table, this could also be marble, but unlikely due to the weight.
• You will be able to see graffiti on the pillar of the bridge, the bridge is also large, so this is not a bridge you would find inside the city, so it is my assumption the bridge is located on the cities outer perimeter.
• The sign indicates a ''I'', on marine waterways, this means ''Watch Out'', this indicates two-way traffic, also indicating this bridge is large, and busy.
• The building is unique, it seems as though it is cylinder shaped, rounded on one side at least from what I can see.
• Rather than a residential building, this looks like a high-rise office building, from what first appears as balconies, could be in fact emergency exit stairs.

Step 2: Identification of Key Elements

Below, I have outlined some of the above findings.

Step 3: Google Earth

Amsterdam has over 1573 bridges, taking to Google Earth I commenced the process of elimination.

Outside of the city, land becomes much greener, and high-rise buildings are uncommon. Below I have outlined the area in which I narrowed down; this is the central area of Amsterdam.

Step 4: Identification of Possible Location

The area above was further shrank, to this below area in yellow.

Below I have provided an image of several bridges within the yellow box above. These bridges connect the central station to the rest of the city.

The bridges in the red, yellow and blue boxes clearly have no high-rise buildings on its banks, however, from glancing, the final bridge to the left in the green box did.

Step 5: Confirmation of Location

Building Analysis

You can see below within the yellow box the building in question, you can see that it is round, specifically on the northeast, and southwest facing ends. In green I have squared off what is clearly a bridge.

Below you will see another angle of the above screen capture. The fire stairs can clearly be seen in the yellow box, and the bridge in the green box, this is also the possible area where Gary took the photo from.

Within the red box below, and using Google Street View, I was able to obtain a clearer image, and confirm this as the building in Gary's photo, by the design on the stairs, and the blue pillars.

Bridge Analysis

Upon confirming this as the building, I then panned to the left, and inspected the bridge for both a sign, and grafitti.

Confirmation

Based on the above, Gary took this photo on the Westertoegang Canal, under the railway/metro bridge, at the mouth of the IJ River, facing northeast.

• Google Coordinates: 52.38014360107224, 4.895974395228537

Step 6: Further Investigation

Not included in Gary's requirements, however....

The Boat Company took some research, based on what I have found Gary was using a company called Blue Boat . This is an image found online, and I will outline my findings.

The above outlines some key alignment to Gary's photo. You will notice the map on the table, and both the light and the speaker. In Gary's photo the roof sections are pushed back, hence why you will see the metal bars, see below. You cannot see them in the above photo as they are closed, as the above photo was taken in the colder months, see lady on the left, and man on the right.

Gary was also sat at the rear of the vessel, clarifying that he was travelling out of the mouth of the river, into the IJ.

Based on Gary's visit to the Foodhallen, another challenge from yesterday (see here), and where Blue Boat has a main pick-up station, it is assumed that Gary could be staying in this area and departed from the below location on a canal cruise.

In red outlines the Foodhallen, the green box indicates the Blue Boat Company station, the yellow indicates where the original photo was taken, and finally in blue, the possible area where Gary is staying.

The above is a map of tours offered on www.citysightseeingamsterdam.nl , they mention Blue Boat several times in their promotional material. Station 8 is where Gary possibly boarded, you will see to the north of the above map number 1, the route takes you under the metro bridge (where Gary took the photo), and then out into the IJ to the right.

Thank you again Gary Ruddell .

Onto the next challenge.

Adam

#OSINT