#1 CHINA OSINT SKILL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROVIDER

Understanding the Basics

• Key differences between China and the West (tools, access, platforms)
• How the Chinese internet is set up and why that matters
• What makes China a difficult target for OSINT investigations
• Common mistakes Western analysts make when starting out

Censorship and Control

• How the Chinese government controls what people can see and post
• What information is blocked or hidden from outsiders
• How platforms like Baidu, WeChat, QQ, and Douyin (TikTok China) work differently
• Why even basic searches don’t work the same way in China

Access Problems and Limits

• Why some sites are locked if you’re outside China
• Real-name rules, ID checks, and phone number requirements
• What happens when you try to use Western tools in Chinese spaces
• How to know if your search method isn’t working (how not to fall into rabbit holes in your investigations)

Working Smarter

• What to change in your search approach to find better results
• Where to look first when starting a Chinese OSINT investigation
• Real examples of what works and what doesn’t
• How to avoid wasting time and getting stuck

Getting in the Right Mindset

• How to think differently (out of the box) when doing research on China
• How to tell if a tool or platform is worth your time
• What to expect going forward in the course
• Why this foundation is important for everything that comes next

Reading and Searching Smarter

• How to read and understand large amounts of Chinese text quickly (context)
• How to search in Chinese correctly, even without knowing the language (strategic approach to searching)
• What to do when automated translation tools fail
• How to quickly tell when your translation is wrong or misleading

Types of Communication in China

• How people communicate in China: text, numbers, symbols, visuals
• The difference between official language and casual or slang messages
• How internet slang, jokes, memes, emojis, and political terms affect your search results
• Why certain words and phrases are hidden or flagged in China

Chinese Names and People Search

• How Chinese names are “built” and why that matters in OSINT
• Tips for finding people in China with limited information
• What strategies work best for name-based investigations

Overcoming Barriers

• Tricks to bypass captchas and access blocked or hard-to-read pages
• Working with Chinese sites and pages that block ability to copy data
• What to do when OCR (text recognition) doesn’t work on Chinese images
• Tools and creative methods to break down language challenges faster

Avoiding Mistakes

• Common errors Western analysts make when dealing with Chinese content
• What to watch out for when using auto-translators or AI tools
• How to check your understanding before taking action on results

Tech Tools for Better Context

• Using AI, plugins, and browser tools to improve language accuracy
• Practical ways to speed up your workflow and reduce confusion (becoming more efficient)

Disciplines Covered:

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)

Imagery Intelligence (IMINT)

Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT)

Corporate Intelligence in China

Searching for People in China

What You Get:

Search engines tailored to Chinese platforms

Reverse search engines for people, images, and for other OSINT disciplines

Tools and plugins that work inside or outside China

Online services that support Chinese intelligence gathering

Step-by-step case studies with full breakdowns

Real-world examples of successful investigations

Exclusive manual methods developed by EPCYBER

Hands-on exercises (Labs) to apply what you learn right away

Resource lists to save time and improve accuracy

Effective Chinese keyword strategies, placement, practices, real world searching

Source development tips to grow your access over time (completely independently!)

You’ll learn how to:

Search through restricted or hidden Chinese platforms

Bypass blocks and access sources not visible outside China

Pivot between sources, identities, and tools

Obtain intelligence from corporate, social, or visual data

Discover unknown leads using smart search methods and out of the box approaches

Generate real, actionable intelligence from inside China’s ecosystem

*You’ll also learn how to apply these methods independently — our strategies are designed to give you long-term capability, so you can replicate everything on your own, even a year after completing the training.

Bypassing and Accessing Like a Local

How to get a real +86 Chinese mobile number from outside China

Step-by-step guide to registering Chinese social media and service accounts

How to use platforms that normally block foreign IPs or accounts

Methods that don’t rely on VPNs or tools likely to get flagged

Mindset and Strategy

Understanding how the Chinese internet is structured

How Chinese platforms detect and block outsiders — and how to avoid that

Thinking like a local user to reduce friction and raise fewer alerts

Adjusting your approach based on technical challenges

Manual Techniques and Weak Spots

Spotting the cracks: where China’s access controls are weakest

How our team has bypassed real restrictions without paid tools

Field-tested strategies that have worked in live investigations

What methods fail — and how to know when to switch tactics

Real-World Application

A real case example: bypassing state-level restrictions to access blocked content

How to stay low-profile while expanding your access

Building a low-risk footprint for longer-term investigations (OPSEC in Online China)

Note (March 2025):

EPCYBER is actively developing new methods to bypass the GFW, with a focus on overcoming Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and other advanced filtering mechanisms. These efforts include unique, out-of-the-box tactics designed to bypass geo-based and platform-level restrictions, extending access in even the most controlled environments. Without a VPN, Proxy or typical “solutions” that are commonly known.

Note: 

This course is centered on OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) but, where needed, it introduces methods, tools, ideas, and tactics beyond OSINT for a well-rounded approach to intelligence gathering. Occasionally, we’ll touch on techniques inspired by penetration testing, used passively only, and as needed to support OSINT objectives, we call that “thinking outside the box”. 

Mapping the Threat Actor Landscape

How to identify and categorize threat actors within China

Understanding motivations: cybercrime, espionage, hacktivism, state-sponsored (APT) ops

Tracking groups through aliases, tools, language, and platform behavior

Multi-Layer Monitoring

Navigating the Chinese dark web, clear web, and deep web spaces

How to locate and monitor underground forums, markets, and restricted networks

Step-by-step guidance to follow threat trails, leaks, and hacking chatter

Blending In and Engaging Safely

Using avatars and sock puppets to enter and observe CTI spaces

Building profiles that look authentic to Chinese platforms and users

How to gather intelligence without triggering suspicion or bans

vHUMINT for China

Virtual human intelligence techniques tailored for China-specific environments

How to build and maintain local virtual connections and sources

Best practices for ongoing source interaction and info collection

Detection Avoidance and Risk Reduction

How to safely operate in hostile or high-risk digital spaces

Identifying signs you’re being “watched” online or flagged

Techniques for reducing exposure and maintaining cover

Investigative Depth and Analysis

Spotting pre-leak signals, zero-day mentions, and threat data references

Differentiating between noise, disinfo, and real threats

How to verify sources, chatter, and tools before acting

Just released:

Our  February 2025 Fully Updated Advanced Chinese OSINT Course — packed with  never-before-seen methods and exclusive search strategies you won’t find  anywhere else in the West. 

These are original techniques developed by  EPCYBER to Search, Bypass, Access, Pivot, Extract, Discover, and  Generate Intelligence from inside China — with unmatched depth and  precision.
 

You may download the full PDF above.

Finding people in China, gathering information on your target on any social media, domestic Chinese network or Western.. but names are different! We show you how to tackle it all.

Chinese APT groups? Chinese hackers? Want to know what they talk about, what tools they use, who they target in the West? To really immerse yourself in their ecosystem and operations,  to get best CTI insights and top collection abilities.

Finding people in China, gathering information on your target on any social media, domestic Chinese network or Western.. but names are different! We show you how to tackle it all.

Understanding context is one of the 4 most important skills for a China-OSINT professional. We show you the depth of context, different methods, tips to understanding it fully.

What every company wants you to have as a n OSINT professional.. find new resources on anything in China, new websites, forums, communities, groups. But also learn to pivot from one resource to many more, in Chinese.

Just like in the West, hackers don't always mention client name when they sell they compromised data, in China it's the same but more complicated.. with this course you'll learn all about finding threat data without gaps.