PI PI Digital Investigation and OSINT

Question 1

What does OSINT stand for in the context of private investigation?

Accepted Answer

Open Source Intelligence

Answer

Operative Security Intelligence Network

Answer

Official State Investigative Network

Answer

Online Surveillance and Intelligence Technology

Question 2

Which of the following is a legitimate OSINT source a PI may use during a digital investigation?

Accepted Answer

Publicly available court records

Answer

Hacked email accounts

Answer

Intercepted text messages

Answer

Illegally accessed cloud storage

Question 3

When investigating a subject's social media, a PI should primarily focus on:

Accepted Answer

Reviewing publicly visible posts and profile information

Answer

Creating fake profiles to befriend the subject

Answer

Hacking into private messages

Answer

Paying the platform for private data

Question 4

Which federal law primarily governs the interception of electronic communications and is relevant to digital PI investigations?

Accepted Answer

Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)

Answer

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Answer

Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)

Answer

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)

Question 5

A PI wants to verify someone's employment history using digital methods. Which approach is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Reviewing publicly listed job history on professional networking sites

Answer

Accessing the subject's private LinkedIn messages

Answer

Calling the employer pretending to be an HR professional

Answer

Accessing government employment tax records without authorization

Question 6

What is 'metadata' and why is it important in digital investigations?

Accepted Answer

Hidden data embedded in files that can reveal origin, authorship, and timestamps

Answer

Encrypted data that requires a warrant to access

Answer

A database of criminal records maintained by the FBI

Answer

Social media data sold by platforms to advertisers