book | Tracetools

THE CYBER INVESTIGATORS HANDBOOK

The data is there. You just have to find it…….

Why do you look for the car keys when you leave the house? Why does a police officer search under a bush for a weapon, at the scene of a crime? Why do you look for a certain book at the library?

Because you know they exist, but you just can’t find them yet.

Open sourcing is the opposite. You look for something you don’t even know is there.

There is a fine art to open sourcing data and mining intelligence online.

The Primary objective of open sourcing is to glean as much readily available data as can be found, using all the tools we have available. You don’t need to be an expert on how it works, just where it leaves traces. And you can’t just google it any more….

To get the complete picture on a jigsaw, you need to get as many pieces as possible. Potentially, you get only part of the jigsaw and make a decision that may not be the correct one.

Do we use all the tools available? Do we read past page 3 of the results on Google, despite being hit with an avalanche of data over millions of pages? Do we ignore the big, well-known search engines and use the lesser known (and in many cases more useful) search engines that will take us further and provide us with manageable size of results? The plain answer is no.

It is there. You just have to know how to find it.

Backed by 35+ years of investigator experience, this book will enlighten you and widen your search as to where you look and how you can do it.

I'm exited to announce the launch and publishing of my book on OSINT and SOCMINT techniques, tradecraft and methodology, for an efficient and far reaching investigative delve in to the internet. Its not a standard 'how to do' and tools book. Its much more. 400 ish pages on dealing with the way we should be thinking, and how we approach the subject. And the toolks to do it.

The format will be available in print only at this stage, and will be packed with all the latest tools and techniques, lateral thinking, covert searching and best practice for the modern cyber investigator.

It deals with the concept of OSINT like no other book on the market- an alternative look at how to achieve results, based on over 38 years as a police and intelligence investigator.

Below is an example glossary and index.

The book will be officially launched on the 4th June 2025, but discounted pre orders can be made before that date using the link . It is currently only available through my website. Printing is underway .

Pre launch orders are discounted until 9th June . The code gives a discount of 20% for pre launch orders, which counteracts the unavoidable postage charges.

For bulk orders, place the order and number of copies, but select MANUAL FOR PAYMENT. This will create an invoice request and I can then discount the books further and the shipping.

Please allow upto 21 days for delivery, commencing the 9th June

Those who have previously ordered, please reach out to me. Thank you for your patience. Those purchases will be honoured.

Due to overwhelming requests from non police/gov/military for this book, there will be 2 versions. this one and the link above is for the law enforcement version.

A public version, will soon be available for purchase via Amazon. Please note this will be cheaper, and no postage costs, but an abridged version for public reference, with some methodology removed.

Chapter
1 What is it all about?
2 Searching the web
3 Where should we search
4 Understanding Open source
5 Understanding your subject
5 How it all works
6 What is a Browser
7 Understanding VPN
8 Boolean operators
9 Google dorks
10 Attribution
11 Websites
12 Cookies
13 Headers
14 False profiles and sock puppets
15 Mobile/cellular footprints
16 Wifi
17 MAC
18 Historic data
19 Images
20 Social Media
21 Geolocation
22 Darkweb
23 Structure of the internet
24 AI
25 excersizes
26 Tools
27 Glossary

Order may be subject to change