OSINT: Searching the Middle Eastern Internet (Virtual Course)

Open enrolment and in-house options available

This course will give you the skills you need to work with sources in Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages. The course begins with an introduction to the Arabic language and the challenges common to working with Arabic news, web and social media sources. From there we will show you how to configure your devices to support data collection, processing and translation. We will then walk you through the different strategies, tools and resources you can use to research issues or entities of interest using Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages. Throughout, attention will be given to those issues of language or culture that you should be sensitive to as a researcher.

The course will be delivered live over five 3.5-hour sessions. There will be separate iterations of the course for Asian, American and EMEA audiences. Please select the start time (SGT, CET or EST) that suits you best.

View Dates and Register Request in-house course

Course Outline

Getting Started

Introduction to Arabic

  • Working with the Arabic language
  • Working with Arabic dialects
  • Working with Arabic terminology

Working with Translation Tools

  • Arabic translation tools
  • Working with Google translate
  • Working with Arabic numerals and markers
  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for Arabic text
  • Working with virtual keyboards
  • Context analysis: interpreting content in Arabic sources

Search Strategies and Resources

Searching in Arabic

  • Recap and skill expansion
  • Recommended search strategies and resources
  • Google search in Arabic
  • Working with Arabic research resources

Working with Arabic Names and Social Media

Working with Arabic Names

  • Understanding Arabic naming conventions
  • Finding Arabic email addresses and contact details

Social Media Research

  • Working with Arabic social media
  • Querying social media platforms using Middle Eastern languages
  • Recommended people search strategies

Location-Based Searches and Cultural Intelligence

Running Location-Based Queries

  • Geolocation with satellite imagery
  • Leveraging local infrastructure and identifiers
  • Working with cultural markers and identifiers
  • Advanced geolocation exercises
  • Working with the Flinfo tool

Training Exercises

Applying What You’ve Learned

  • Working with regional Arabic dialects
  • AI tools for online research
  • Simulated OSINT scenarios
  • Team-based exercises
View Dates and Register Request in-house course

Course Details

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

This course is intended for anyone wishing to make better use of Arabic language resources on the Internet. The course is recommended for business professionals, academic researchers, due diligence specialists and social media investigators.

HOW YOU BENEFIT

On completion of this course, you will have the ability to:

  • Understand the main characteristics of the Arabic language
  • Navigate Arabic and Middle Eastern sources with greater confidence
  • Find specific content in Arabic or other Middle Eastern languages (news reports, documents, etc.)
  • Find people through their web and social media profiles
  • Conduct location-based queries
  • Tackle the problem of translation and transliteration

WHAT YOU RECEIVE


  • A certificate of completion
  • A full set of course slides / user guides in PDF
  • An index of recommended tools and resources
  • Six months of post-course support

COURSE FEE

EUR 1,200

COURSE PREREQUISITES

Trainees do not need prior knowledge of the Arabic language; basic knowledge of the Internet suffices.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

To participate, you will need:

  • A Windows, Mac or Linux-based desktop or laptop computer
  • A Google / Gmail account
  • Google’s Chrome Browser
  • A mobile device with the Google Translate app installed

Additional requirements will be provided on registration. You do not need prior knowledge of the Chinese language; basic knowledge of the Internet is sufficient.