Finding Hope Through OSINT: My Experience at the Trace Labs Global OSINT Search Party CTF
Participant – Trace Labs Global OSINT Search Party CTF
More Than Just a CTF
As cybersecurity professionals, we often think about OSINT, or Open-Source Intelligence, in the context of threat intelligence, investigations, vulnerability research, and digital forensics.
The Trace Labs Global OSINT Search Party CTF reminded me that OSINT can also be used for something much more meaningful: helping locate missing persons and bringing answers to families who have spent years searching for their loved ones.
Recently, I had the privilege of participating in the Trace Labs Global OSINT Search Party CTF as a member of Team CS-Sensei, alongside Serena Chan, Kate Davydova, and Ben Gladnikoff.
While the event is structured as a Capture The Flag competition, the mission behind it is very different from traditional cybersecurity competitions. Instead of exploiting systems or solving technical puzzles, participants use OSINT techniques to gather information that may assist law enforcement and organizations working on real missing-person cases.
Why This Event Matters
What makes Trace Labs unique is that every case represents a real person.
Behind every case ID is someone’s son or daughter, brother or sister, mother or father, or friend. These are not fictional scenarios created for training purposes. They are real individuals whose families continue searching for answers.
That reality changes the way you approach the work. Unlike many cybersecurity competitions where points and rankings are the primary focus, Trace Labs constantly reminds participants that the information being collected could potentially help advance a real investigation.
The Challenge of Older Cases
One aspect that stood out to me was the age of some of the cases. Several of the missing persons had been missing for more than a decade.
When a person disappears for ten or fifteen years, many of the digital traces investigators typically rely on may no longer exist.
Challenges included deleted social media accounts, websites that no longer existed, expired domains, outdated contact information, archived records with limited accessibility, and digital footprints that had grown cold over time.
In modern investigations, we often assume there will be a rich digital trail to follow. For older cases, that assumption quickly disappears. Many times, the challenge was not simply finding information. It was determining whether any information still existed at all.
Working as Team CS-Sensei
One of the most rewarding aspects of the event was collaborating with my teammates: Serena Chan, Kate Davydova, and Ben Gladnikoff.
OSINT investigations benefit greatly from diverse perspectives. While one person may focus on social media research, another may be digging through archived websites, public records, geolocation clues, or historical data sources.
Throughout the competition, we shared findings, validated information, and worked together to build stronger intelligence packages. The teamwork aspect was every bit as valuable as the OSINT work itself.
Lessons Learned
Persistence Matters
Some leads appeared insignificant at first but eventually connected to larger pieces of information.
Digital Footprints Fade
The longer a person has been missing, the more difficult it becomes to locate meaningful online traces.
OSINT Is More Than Cybersecurity
This event demonstrated how OSINT skills can be applied to humanitarian efforts.
Continuous Learning
Every investigation introduced new techniques, resources, and ways of thinking.
A Different Kind of Success
In many competitions, success is measured by points, rankings, or trophies. Trace Labs feels different.
Success is measured by the possibility that a family may someday receive answers. Whether those answers ultimately bring closure, hope, or resolution, helping move a case forward is meaningful work.
Final Thoughts
Participating in the Trace Labs Global OSINT Search Party CTF was both challenging and rewarding. It provided an opportunity to sharpen my OSINT skills, collaborate with an outstanding team, and contribute to a mission that extends far beyond cybersecurity.
I am grateful to have participated alongside Serena Chan, Kate Davydova, and Ben Gladnikoff as part of Team CS-Sensei, and I look forward to supporting future Trace Labs events.
The experience served as a powerful reminder that technical skills can be used not only to secure systems and investigate incidents, but also to help people. Sometimes, that may be the most important application of all.
About Trace Labs
Trace Labs is a nonprofit organization that partners with law enforcement and missing-person organizations by leveraging the global OSINT community to assist in missing-person investigations.