Information is the currency of a private investigator. In the past, we relied on morning newspapers and police scanners. Today, the landscape is digital, fast, and overwhelming.
Every day, roughly 328 billion emails are sent and received globally. For an investigator, the challenge is no longer finding information. The challenge is filtering the signal from the noise. You cannot afford to waste time on celebrity gossip or clickbait. You need actionable intelligence.
I originally compiled this list to learn what the top professionals in our industry were reading. I looked for newsletters that met three strict criteria:
- Relevance: Does it teach a new search technique or expose a new threat?
- Brevity: Can I read it in under five minutes?
- Utility: Does it provide tools I can use in a case today?
Below is a curated list of the best email newsletters for investigators, OSINT researchers, and intelligence professionals.
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Newsletters
OSINT is the fastest-growing sector of private investigation. These newsletters focus on the tools and techniques for finding information online.
Sector035 (Week in OSINT)
If you subscribe to only one newsletter on this list, make it this one. Week in OSINT (curated by Sector035) is widely considered the industry standard for digital investigators. Why it matters: Every week, the author curates the best new tools, tutorials, and articles from the OSINT community. It is strictly educational. You will find tips on geolocation, social media analysis, and public records verification. Unlike other publications that may focus on theory, this focuses on practical application. Best for: Learning new digital search techniques and discovering new software.
Bellingcat
Bellingcat is famous for solving major international cases using only open sources. Their newsletter is unique because it focuses less on specific tools and more on the methodology of investigation. Why it matters: They explain how they solved a case step-by-step. You might read how they tracked a ship using satellite imagery or identified a soldier using a patch on a uniform. It teaches you how to think like a digital detective. Reading their breakdowns helps you spot details you might otherwise miss in your own cases. Best for: Case studies, deep-dive methodology, and visual verification.
OSINT Combined
This newsletter comes from an Australian training firm but has a global focus. It is an excellent resource for staying updated on the broader OSINT landscape. Why it matters: It often highlights free software and resources. Private investigators usually work on tight budgets. Finding a free tool that replaces expensive software is a massive win. They also cover training opportunities, webinars, and significant changes to social media platforms that could affect how you search. Best for: Free resources, training news, and software updates.
Cybersecurity and Privacy Newsletters
Modern investigations often cross paths with cybercrime. You need to understand data breaches, dark web trends, and how criminals hide.
Krebs on Security
Brian Krebs is a former Washington Post reporter who now runs an independent investigative blog. He is often the first to report on major cybercrime rings. Why it matters: Krebs often breaks stories on data breaches before the mainstream news. If you investigate fraud or identity theft, this is essential reading. He explains the mechanics of how skimmers, hackers, and scammers operate. Understanding the criminal mindset is key to catching them. Best for: Fraud investigations, identity theft trends, and cybercrime news.
TLDR InfoSec
For those who want just the facts without the fluff, TLDR InfoSec is a lifesaver. It summarizes the most important information security news of the day into bite-sized bullet points. Why it matters: Security news moves fast. A new vulnerability discovered in the morning can be exploited by the afternoon. This newsletter helps you scan the headlines in seconds. It covers data leaks, software patches, and major hacks. It allows you to stay informed without spending hours reading technical blogs. Best for: Quick daily summaries of security threats.
The Hacker News
This is a high-volume daily update. It covers vulnerabilities, software patches, and hacking trends in detail. Why it matters: It can be technical, but it is vital for “defensive” investigations. If a corporate client hires you to check their business security or investigate an internal leak, you need to know what the current threats are. It helps you understand the technical “how” behind a breach. Best for: Technical security updates and vulnerability alerts.
Dark Reading
This publication sits comfortably between technical news and business news. Why it matters: It explains how cyber attacks affect companies financially and operationally. For corporate investigators, this provides the context you need when talking to executives. It helps you speak their language regarding risk, compliance, and liability. Best for: Corporate investigations and risk assessment.
Industry News and Lifestyle
Sometimes you need to step away from the computer screen and look at the business side of investigation. These newsletters focus on the profession itself.
Pursuit Magazine
Pursuit has been a staple in the PI industry for years. Their newsletter compiles their best articles and delivers them to your inbox. Why it matters: It covers the “boots on the ground” side of the job. You will find articles on surveillance techniques, process serving, and running an agency. They also feature interviews with veteran investigators who share war stories and advice. It reminds you that, despite the technology, investigation is still a human business. Best for: Agency owners, field investigators, and business tips.
PI Magazine
This is the digital extension of the long-running print magazine. Why it matters: It keeps you updated on legislation. Laws regarding GPS tracking, drones, and privacy change constantly. PI Magazine does a good job of tracking these legal shifts so you don’t accidentally break the law during a case. They also review new physical gear, from cameras to body armor. Best for: Legal updates, legislative news, and equipment reviews.
The Best General News for Investigators
You still need to know what is happening in the world. However, you should choose sources that respect your time and focus on facts over opinion.
1440
The name stands for the number of minutes in a day. Their goal is to give you an unbiased view of the news. Why it matters: Investigators must remain objective. Many news sources today are heavily biased, which can skew your perception of events. 1440 aggregates news from both sides of the political spectrum to give you just the facts. This helps you maintain a neutral mindset, which is critical for unbiased reporting. Best for: Unbiased daily briefings and fact-based reporting.
Morning Brew
Morning Brew is a business-focused daily email. While it is written in a witty, engaging style, the content is serious business. Why it matters: Money motivates most crimes. Understanding the stock market, crypto trends, and business mergers helps you understand the motivations behind corporate fraud. Morning Brew makes complex business news easy to digest. It helps you understand the economic forces that might be driving the cases you investigate. Best for: Market trends, business intelligence, and economic context.
How to Manage Your Intelligence Feed
Subscribing to newsletters is easy. Reading them is hard. If you subscribe to everything on this list, you will drown in emails. Here is a strategy to manage your flow.
1. Use a Dedicated Email Address
Do not use your primary client-facing email for newsletters. Create a separate address (like intel@youragency.com) or use an alias. This keeps your client communications separate from your reading material. It also ensures that if a newsletter database is hacked, your primary business email remains safe.
2. Schedule “Intel Time”
Block out 15 minutes every morning. Do not check these emails throughout the day. Treat reading them as a specific work task. You are not “browsing the web”; you are gathering intelligence. Once the time is up, close the folder and get to work.
3. The “Unsubscribe” Rule
If you delete a newsletter without opening it three times in a row, unsubscribe immediately. It is not providing value to you. Be ruthless with your inbox. A cluttered inbox leads to missed information.
4. Use an RSS Reader
If you prefer not to clog your inbox, many of these newsletters also have RSS feeds. Tools like Feedly allow you to aggregate headlines in one dashboard. This lets you scan hundreds of headlines in minutes and only click on what matters.
Summary
The tools of a private investigator change every year. What worked in 2020 might be obsolete in 2025. The only way to stay competitive is to keep learning.
By curating your information diet with high-quality sources like Sector035, Krebs on Security, and Pursuit Magazine, you ensure you are always equipped with the latest knowledge.
Don’t let the information flood overwhelm you. Build a pipeline of trusted intelligence and let the updates come to you.
Sources
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/456500/daily-number-of-e-mails-worldwide/
- https://krebsonsecurity.com/
- https://www.bellingcat.com/
- https://sector035.com/week-in-osint/
- https://pursuitmag.com/
- https://tldr.tech/infosec
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I enjoyed theSkimm for years because I found it concise and to be an easy read. However, they now insert a LOT of opinion/bias. I’m not looking for someone to tell me what to think. I just want a quick list of facts.
I also get the Morning Brew. They do a better job of being less overt about opinions/bias, but their humor is a little too juvenile/frat boy (still mostly appropriate, just not very intellectual/impressive jokes)
Great list
I enjoyed theSkimm for years because I found it concise and to be an easy read. However, they now insert a LOT of opinion/bias. I’m not looking for someone to tell me what to think. I just want a quick list of facts.
I also get the Morning Brew. They do a better job of being less overt about opinions/bias, but their humor is a little too juvenile/frat boy (still mostly appropriate, just not very intellectual/impressive jokes)
I’m going to look into a few of the other newsletters. I’m looking for an evening one to summarize the day’s events when I’m less hurried (vs. the morning)
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