AI is revolutionising OSINT, but attackers are benefiting too

Artificial intelligence is transforming every industry, and when it comes to External Attack Surface Management (EASM), one of the most notable changes is how AI is reshaping the way OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) is gathered and processed. What was once a slow, manual process handled by dedicated human research teams is now increasingly automated, with AI-driven systems pulling in vast amounts of data and analysing it at speeds no human team could match.

For EASM solutions, this is an absolute game-changer. Instead of spending hours, days or even weeks trawling through forums, leaks and open-source data, AI can now do it in minutes, not only collecting information but intelligently connecting the dots. It can determine whether leaked credentials belong to the business being targeted, whether an employee's personal social media presence is exposing company risks, or whether an obscure reference in an underground forum points to an imminent threat.

This level of speed and precision is what makes AI such a critical tool for cybersecurity. The sheer volume of available data is overwhelming for human analysts, but AI thrives in these environments. By automating OSINT collection and analysis, security teams can focus on responding to threats rather than getting lost in mountains of data.

The problem: attackers have AI too

The trouble is, this is not a one-sided evolution. If security teams can use AI to gather and process OSINT more effectively, so can attackers. And they are. Malicious actors are increasingly adopting AI-driven methods to scrape data, correlate stolen credentials with real-world businesses and identify vulnerabilities faster than ever before.

In the past, a cybercriminal looking to exploit a company might have relied on time-consuming research, piecing together information manually from data breaches, social media and leaked databases. Now, AI can do it all for them, mapping out an organisation’s entire external attack surface in moments. It can correlate employee names with leaked passwords, match up infrastructure details with unpatched vulnerabilities and even mimic social engineering tactics based on real-world interactions.

The arms race between attackers and defenders has always existed in cybersecurity, but with AI, it is accelerating. The same efficiencies that help security teams stay ahead of threats are also giving adversaries new ways to target businesses with greater accuracy. This means organisations cannot afford to rely on outdated methods. If attackers are using AI, then businesses need to do the same – and do it better.

How DarkInvader is using AI to stay ahead

At DarkInvader, AI is not just another tool in the cybersecurity toolbox. It is central to how we approach External Attack Surface Management. We use AI to solve problems that were previously impossible to tackle at scale. Our platform automates OSINT gathering, filters out irrelevant noise and ensures our customers get actionable intelligence that is truly relevant to their business.

One of the biggest challenges with OSINT is attribution – making sure that the intelligence collected actually relates to the correct business or individual. AI allows us to cross-reference data in ways that were not possible before, accurately determining whether a threat is genuinely relevant or just a false alarm. This level of precision is critical because false positives waste time, while missed threats can be devastating.

By leveraging AI, we provide our customers with the same advantages that attackers are using, ensuring that businesses can defend themselves with the best technology available. It is not just about keeping up – it is about staying ahead.