OSINT Secrets: Control Your Digital Reputation Before It's Too Late

In this episode, Jen breaks down how to "rabbit hole yourself" before someone else does. She walks through practical steps to audit your digital footprint, delete dormant accounts, and intentionally curate the top results that show up when someone searches your name. This isn't about scrubbing the truth—it's about making sure the best version of you shows up first. 

Whether you're a high school senior applying to colleges, a professional navigating career moves, or a parent helping your kids understand digital responsibility, this episode gives you actionable steps to protect your reputation in a world where everything is public—and permanent. 

🔑 KEY TOPICS COVERED: 

• What OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) is and how employers use it 
• AI-powered background check tools like Fama and Ferretly 
• How to audit your own digital footprint using Incognito mode 
• Why deleting old accounts matters (yes, even that MySpace profile) 
• The power of intentionally planting positive content online 
• How to shape your digital reputation before someone else does 

Take control of your digital reputation today. Like, share, and subscribe for more coffee shop cybersecurity wisdom that keeps you and your family safe online. 

#OSINT #DigitalReputation #Cybersecurity #JobSearch #SocialMediaSafety #OpenSourceIntelligence #OnlinePrivacy #SipCyber #CuriosityCoffe #EaganMN 

Transcript

Jen Lotze: 0:03

Hey there, coffee lovers and internet explorers. Welcome back to Sip Cyber, the podcast where we hunt for the best brews and the simplest ways to navigate our digital lives. I'm headed to a spot today that feels like stepping through a looking glass. Curiosor Coffee and Elixir's in Egan, Minnesota. This place has a total Alice in Wonderland vibe. It's mysterious, it's beautifully designed, and it brings me back to a much younger version of myself who is obsessed with that story. Who doesn't love a Cheshire cat? You're gonna want to stick around until the end of the episode because I'm going to review my drink, a half sweet hazel number, and talk about why adding a pinch of salt to a hazelnut drink is the best surprise you'll have all week. But first, let's talk about the digital rabbit hole we all live in. The other day I was working with a group of high school seniors and we were talking about what their digital reputation actually does for their future. We got into something called OSINT, which stands for open source intelligence. It sounds like something straight out of a spy novel, but it's actually just the art of finding information that is already publicly available on the internet. Most people don't realize that employers aren't just Googling you anymore. They are using sophisticated AI scanning tools, platforms like Fama or Ferretly that crawl the web to build a full profile on you. These tools look for red flag behaviors in public posts from years ago and things you've long forgotten about, but that the internet always remembers. Your cybersecurity SIP for today is all about doing your own OSINT work before an employer does it for you. You need to rabbit hole yourself. Open an incognito browser window and search your name, your handles, and even your old email addresses, even that AOL.com one. If you find an old account you haven't used in five years, don't just leave it there, delete it. But here's the secret: it's not just about deleting the bad stuff. It's also about intentionally planting the good stuff. Use OSINT to see what the world sees and then start shaping that image by posting the projects and the passions you're actually proud of. You want the top results to be one of the ones that you've actually curated, not a random photo from middle school. I can assure you we weren't as cool as we thought we were then. Now let's talk about that hazel and ember latte from Curiosa Coffee. The layout of the shop is so unique and intentional, and the drink is no different. The ember adds a warm, slightly smoky depth, and that pinch of salt against the hazelnut makes the whole thing pop. It's the perfect reminder that when you pay attention to the details, whether in a recipe or your digital reputation, it makes all the difference in the world. If you're a Negan Minnesota, go get lost in the Wonderland at Curiasar. Thanks for joining me for this trip down the rabbit hole. We'll be back next week with a new spot and a new tip. Until then, stay safe, stay human, and keep sipping.