Digital Vulnerability is Not Siloed: OSINT has Entered a New Phase
OSINT, Knowledge Ecology, and the Myth of the Quick Fix Open-source intelligence is entering…
Read NowAbout US
Founded to bring order to complexity, Hetherington Group is an investigations, intelligence, and training firm specializing in online research, due diligence, digital-risk and vulnerability analysis, and open-source intelligence. We work with organizations, professionals, and high-profile individuals to uncover where exposure exists, what public data reveals, how that information may be used, and whether the people and entities they engage with can be trusted – so decisions are made based on accurate, reliable information.
Born at the Start of the Internet
Hetherington Group was founded in the 1990s as the internet began transforming how information was created, shared, and discovered. Early work focused on helping researchers and law enforcement navigate the emerging digital landscape, bringing structure and clarity to online information and helping investigators locate reliable sources.
As investigators began operating in digital environments, new risks quickly surfaced. In 1998, the firm developed one of the first guidebooks on digital vulnerability, helping investigators understand how online activity and personally identifiable information (PII) could expose them. Books, training programs, and hundreds of client engagements soon followed.
Today, Hetherington Group provides organizations with investigative and intelligence services including digital vulnerability assessments, online exposure analysis, background investigations, entity vetting, fraud inquiries, and ongoing intelligence support. Our work is grounded in disciplined research, ethical investigative practice, and the belief that clarity leads to better decisions.
Our Philosophy Behind Open-Source Intelligence
Our mission is to make the world a safer place through corporate online intelligence, digital vulnerability, and due-diligence investigations. We practice what we teach and teach what we practice.
This focus is reflected in the core values we live by:
Honesty: Every engagement is grounded in clear, transparent, and respectful communication. Our clients always know where they stand and can trust the integrity of our findings.
- Responsiveness: Timely information is essential to good decisions. We prioritize responsive communication and deliver accurate, current insight so clients are never waiting for answers or acting on incomplete information.
- Knowledge: Our team is committed to continuous learning. We stay ahead of emerging investigative techniques, evolving digital threats, and new intelligence methodologies so our clients benefit from the most current expertise.
- Leadership: We hold ourselves to the highest professional standards and actively contribute to advancing the investigative and intelligence profession.
Hetherington Group is nationally certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
Our vision is a world where people and organizations can operate online with greater safety, awareness, and protection from fraud, exploitation, and targeted harm.
