Assessing the Vulnerability of Military Personnel Through Open Source Intelligence: A Case Study of Lithuanian Armed Forces

This study explores the vulnerability of Lithuanian Armed Forces soldiers to hostile intelligence, using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) to identify the extent of personally identifiable information (PII) disclosure. The research found that soldiers' social media and sports applications revealed a significant amount of sensitive data, exposing approximately 71% +/- 23% of personnel as highly vulnerable to threats such as physical attacks, blackmail, and phishing. Certain privacy measures made data collection more challenging, indicating that clear media usage guidelines could improve security while maintaining soldiers' social lives. Notably, a substantial amount of information was obtained from individuals connected to, but not in the military, emphasizing the importance of broader social network considerations in security assessments. The study was conducted manually within specific time and network limits, suggesting automation could enhance investigative scope and reduce error margins. The findings highlight the need for military procedures that account for the heightened vulnerability of soldiers and their families and the implementation of measures to mitigate these risks.