Compared to other social media or networking sites, Discord is a place where user let down their guard and express more authentic selves. That’s why OSINT specialists can now use this channel to collect intelligence that would not be available elsewhere. Learn how to nail the basics of HUMINT and unveil the secrets of Discord leaks with the help of this article.
What is Discord?
Discord is a popular communication platform designed primarily for gamers but has since expanded to include a wide range of communities as well. It allows users to create private servers or join existing ones where they can communicate via text, voice, and video chat. This diversity of topics and interests makes Discord a valuable source of information for OSINT experts who want to infiltrate various online groups with HUMINT techniques.
Out of all social media sites and forums, Discord resembles Reddit the most. Just like Reddit, Discord servers typically consist of channels dedicated to different topics or activities, making it easy for users to engage in discussions, share media, and collaborate on projects. Similarly to Reddit, the anonymous nature of Discord often encourages people to open up about their real opinions in the chat groups closed to the general public. That’s why it can be a valuable resource to reveal the true colors of the person.
How Can Your OSINT Investigation Leverage Discord
Now, let’s break down how exactly OSINT specialists can benefit from investing effort to get into secure Discord channels:
- Learn the Community Hierarchy. By analyzing server structures, channel topics, user roles, and interactions within servers, OSINT specialists can gain a deeper understanding of the communities and individuals involved. For example, you can reveal who is the leader of the criminal group or how they plan their operations.
- Metadata Examination. Like other digital platforms, Discord can include metadata associated with user accounts, messages and media files. Metadata such as timestamps, user IDs and channel information can provide additional context and aid in tracking user activity and interactions or even finding their geolocation.
- Stay on Top of the News. You can observe how communities change and develop in real time as Discord fosters constant networking. Continuously monitoring Discord channels and servers relevant to your investigation can provide real-time insights into ongoing activities, discussions and emerging trends.
Discord HUMINT
The first way to get OSINT data from Discord is by joining the community and actively trying to get the information you need from the members or taking note of their internal conversations. Discord HUMINT involves leveraging human interactions and relationships within Discord communities to gather intelligence. Using effective information extraction techniques, such as open-ended questioning, active listening and elicitation strategies, can help prompt members to share relevant information voluntarily.
However, HUMINT can be risky as the investigator can cause suspicion or accidentally reveal that they are not the made-up persona they claim to be. Monitor for signs of distrust or increased scrutiny from community members and be prepared to pivot or disengage if necessary to avoid being detected.
Furthermore, be aware that Discord HUMINT is a long way to get intelligence. First, you have to build relationships with community members before they are willing to share information with you if this will ever happen at all.
Discord Leaks for OSINT
Another strategy is hunting for evidence that has already been disclosed by the Discord community members. Discord leaks refer to instances where information, conversations, or media from the server are made publicly accessible or otherwise shared outside of the intended audience. Community members may share Discord conversation excerpts, screenshots or summaries on external platforms such as social media, forums or blogs. Otherwise, OSINT specialists may establish collaborations or partnerships with insider sources within Discord spaces who have access to leaked information or insights into community dynamics. Even though you may not get as detailed and up-to-date information compared to Disord HUMINT tactics, this approach is safer and allows you to get data almost immediately.
The Guide to Basics: Explained Discord Leaks
There exist special Discord servers dedicated to collecting leaked files. OSINT professionals can infiltrate these spaces to look for information on a specific person, organization or community to strengthen the case with evidence. Here is a collection of links to the Discord servers with leaks on various topics, from crypto scams to political figures.
All-Source Intel Access
Discord can be a great place to get your hands on all-source intelligence, which includes data gathered from human intelligence (HUMINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), imagery intelligence (IMINT) or measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT). Based on the judgment of some forward-looking OSINT practitioners, if used correctly, professional OSINT teams should have at least some access to platforms like Discord to collect counterintelligence. This would limit such cases as the Discord leaks by the former US Air National Guard Jack Teixeira, who revealed secret intelligence files online.
Interpret Discord Leaks With X-Ray Contact
X-Ray Contact as a data aggregation tool can be beneficial if you strive to make sense of the documents leaked on Discord. Use the features of the service in order to interpret the intelligence data with this tool:
- Go to the “Platform” tab on the X-Ray Contact website.
- Select any investigation Search channel based on what type of data you have, such as Name, Socials, Email, Image of a person or Phone Number.
- If the individual is present in the database of our providers, X-Ray Contact will give you an overview of all information available in the Search Profile. This intelligence can contain the location, demographic information or familial relations of this person. That’s how you can make sense of the Discord leaks and utilize them as a resource to push forward the investigation with real-life details about the person of interest.
Conclusion
Discord is a relatively new platform for collecting intelligence which may stop some OSINT experts from unveiling its true potential as a source of insights. Benefit from our tips to take advantage of the site’s unique features and capabilities.