Blockchains —
In a nutshell, a blockchain is a shared, or distributed, ledger recording transactions and assets. The data is compiled through a continuous verification process that links all transactions into a large, decentralized "chain" of participants, who are linked across a network of peer-to-peer computers.
While this data is publicly available, blockchains still embody a reliable form of transaction security because once the data has been set into the chain, it cannot be altered. This tamper-proof quality, or ‘immutability’, bypasses the need for ‘trusted’ third parties such as auditors, whose operations are by no means infallible.
Introduced with Bitcoin in 2007, blockchains are broadly understood as the building blocks of cryptocurrency systems. In allowing transactions to be tracked in a transparent, secure and decentralized manner, they do indeed play a pivotal role in cryptocurrency ecosystems, but they have all kinds of applications beyond that.
Aside from the proliferation of cryptocurrencies, blockchains also form the basis of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and smart contracts—sets of rules that enable transactions to be carried out automatically. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about financial transactions, assets, and their privacy.
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Featured terms
Blockchains —
In a nutshell, a blockchain is a shared, or distributed, ledger recording transactions and assets. The data is compiled through a continuous verification process that links all transactions into a large, decentralized "chain" of participants, who are linked across a network of peer-to-peer computers...
Data Breach —
Data breaches are the exposure of sensitive or classified information to unauthorized parties and can have disastrous consequences for an organization. When a breach occurs, a company often has to pay out huge sums of money to contain the leak and may also suffer costly reputational damage...
Link Analysis —
The process of link analysis involves examining data to uncover relationships or connections that might not be apparent in raw data sets. It is a powerful analytical tool that has a wide range of applications in various sectors, from law enforcement and national security to cyber and...
Operations Security (OPSEC) —
Operations Security, or OPSEC, involves identifying and consolidating critical information to gain a better understanding of a situation. Additionally, it refers to safeguarding data and ensuring a given mission against eavesdropping by unauthorized parties or accidental compromise...
Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) —
A close cousin of OSINT, SOCMINT is an acronym meaning ‘social media intelligence.’ SOCMINT is the collection and analysis of data from social media platforms. Such information might be used for various purposes, including digital footprinting, link analysis, etc.
Social Media Piggybacking (Piggyback Marketing) —
When a company’s social media post goes viral, it is only a matter of time before millions of people start talking about it. Seeing an opportunity to leverage the post's popularity, companies can join in to redirect some of the traffic toward their services...
Our OSINT Solutions
A suite of data extraction and analysis methods across social media, blockchains, messengers, and the Dark Web connected directly to your in-house platform via our API.
A versatile OSINT tool for conducting in-depth investigations across social media, blockchains, messengers, and the Dark Web via the Maltego and i2 platforms.