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Conducting Online Corporate Research

Conducting an online investigation on a corporation involves gathering information about the company from a variety of online resources. It is used for many purposes; some of which include, gaining insights to its operations, financial health, reputation and more.
A PI investigating a corporation typically follows a systematic approach to gather information, uncover potential wrongdoing, and provide valuable insights to their clients. This includes collecting publicly available information about the corporation. Researching its history, key personnel, financial records, public statements, news articles, etc…
There are several different reasons why a corporation might hire an Investigator to conduct online research. Some of the most common are listed below.

Due Diligence: Investigations on corporations for potential investors, partners, or clients. This might involve verifying financial information, assessing the company’s reputation, investigating key executives, and uncovering any hidden risks.
Intellectual Property Theft: Looking into cases of intellectual property theft or industrial espionage. PIs can gather evidence to identify culprits and prevent further theft.
Competitive Intelligence: Assisting companies by gathering online information about their competitors, including market strategies, product developments, and potential vulnerabilities.
Corporate Security Assessments: PIs might be hired to assess a corporation’s security protocols, vulnerabilities, and potential threats, helping the company improve its security measures.
Insurance Fraud: Private investigators can assist insurance companies in investigating potential fraudulent claims made by corporations, such as property damage or liability claims.
Litigation Support: Private investigators can provide evidence and information that supports legal cases involving corporations, such as in cases of contract disputes, intellectual property infringement, or wrongful termination.

Online Resources to Use

We use several online resources, but the few mentioned below are worth mentioning. Like any other deep web dive, each site potentially offers breadcrumbs that can be used in your investigation.

Open Corporates (httpss://opencorporates.com ) Collects and aggregates data from various public sources, such as company registers, government records, and other official documents. The platform then organizes and presents this data in a standardized format, making it easier to search and analyze. Users can access information about a company’s legal status, ownership, financial history, and more.
Ripoffreport (httpss: ripoffreport.com) is a consumer complaint website that allows individuals to post complaints and reviews about businesses, products, and services.

Glass Door (httpss://www.glassdoor.com) This site is a job and recruiting website that allows employees and former employees to anonymously review companies and their management, provide salary information, and share insights about the interview process.

LittleSis (httpss://littlesis.org/) This site is used for tracking and researching the connections and relationships among powerful individuals, organizations, and corporations in the United States. It allows users to create and access profiles of influential people, companies, politicians, and non-profit organizations. These profiles include information on their affiliations, board memberships, political contributions, financial interests, and other relevant data.

Crunchbase (httpss://crunchbase.com) is a platform that provides information about companies and startups, including their funding, key personnel, products or services, and other relevant business details.

Corporate Case Study

We were hired recently to conduct several deep web scans on companies and their C-Suite executives. The Investigator worked with a client who was about to do some major business with three businesses and wanted to know everything about them before jumping into a business relationship. When completed, one could get an excellent picture of the overall reputation of the companies. The group of companies were business to consumer, so there were a lot of online reviews from various sites from Amazon to Yelp. Social media played a significant role. Newspaper articles published online were included as well as company generated press releases. As you can imagine, it was a large report.

Don’t forget About the Employees

The next step in our corporate case study was to identify online profiles and information on key executives in each organization. Why was this important? By conducting this research, it revealed how the employees felt about working for the company. It also ruled out any social media violations in the workplace. Our research included looking for any of the following areas of interest.

Sharing Confidential Information: Posting sensitive company information, trade secrets, financial data, or proprietary information on social media platforms without authorization.

Harassment and Bullying: Using social media to target, harass, or bully colleagues, supervisors, or other individuals within or outside the organization.

Discriminatory Remarks: Making discriminatory comments, including those related to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics, which can create a hostile work environment.

Defamation and Libel: Making false or damaging statements about the company, coworkers, or management that could harm their reputation or result in legal consequences.

Negative Publicity: Sharing negative opinions, complaints, or criticism about the company, products, or services, which could potentially harm the company’s image or business relationships.

It always amazes me what people will post online. Even in the age of increased privacy awareness, people get carried away sometimes with the personal information they post online. It may have been posted years ago but can come back to haunt them in an investigation.

Lemon8 Unleashed: A Tangy Adventure

Lemon8 is a trendy new social media platform that has a similar feel and aesthetic to Pinterest, and Instagram. Launched by ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, this application has been growing in popularity around the globe. Let’s break this social platform down and dive into the details.

Being compared as a mix between Pinterest and Instagram with aesthetically pleasing images.
Currently in the United States there is a total of 4.25 million active users.
The social app is open to all audiences over the age of 13 but the main demographic is Gen Zer’s.
Several influencers are being paid from the U.S. and the U.K. to promote the app, but there is no clear way to make money off the app, yet.
Lemon8 does not feature advertising, yet.
The browsable categories for Lemon8 include fashion beauty, food, wellness, travel, home, and pets.

Diving into the Details

After downloading the application, I was taken to a screen where I entered my birthdate. Although they state in their disclaimer this information will not be shared with anyone, they mention this information being used to personalize my experience. Next a question on my pronouns is asked followed by what my interests are.
From there you can choose a way to login to your account. Once you login, monetized content is shown throughout your newsfeed. The layout feels very similar to Pinterest and Instagram, being user friendly and inviting.
Like Instagram, you have the normal array of icons:
Home: This shows your monetized newsfeed.
Search Icon: This takes you to a search icon where you have the capability to search usernames, accounts, hashtags, and posts. After the initial search icon, advertisements are displayed, while below viral hashtags are featured that you can click into.
Notification Icon: This icon looks like a bell, which notifies you of new followers, likes and saves, comments, and mentions.
Account Icon: The person icon takes you to your account information.
Clicking into someone’s post allows you to view the user who posted the image/video(s), the post itself, and then scrolling down allows me to see hashtags associated with the post, a date stamp of when it was posted, and a list of all the individuals who commented on the post and when.

How does the Lemon8 algorithm work?

According to HypeBot, Like Lemon8’s ByteDance sibling TikTok, it has a “For You Page” (FYP) that shows what the user is interested in as soon as they open the app. The more they interact with their FYP, the more accurate the algorithm becomes in terms of suggesting user-specific content. In contrast to TikTok, Lemon8 displays more current content, while TikTok can show content uploaded a few days ago.
Hashtags appear to play an important role in driving the Lemon8 algorithm. Like Instagram and TikTok, trending hashtags are also a thing on this app. Therefore, aligning your content with these trending hashtags and categories is a good way to drive the algorithm and increase the visibility of your content. Moreover, incorporating keywords in your post titles increases the chances of your content reaching more people.
In addition, content that tells a story has a greater chance of being shared and going viral, while the algorithm and users prefer carousels to single photo posts. The most game-changing tip is to aim for more saves – the more saves there are, the greater the chance of getting the algorithm to drive it forward.

Will Longevity be at the four corners for Lemon8?

This is up for debate. Although this app is picking up in popularity, there is always a surge of new users within a platform in the beginning. Take Clubhouse and BeReal for example. Two platforms that had excessive hype in the beginning, that no longer hold the attention of users.

Unleashing Mastodon-Navigating the Wilds of Decentralized Social Networking

Once again, the landscape of social media is undergoing transformation. Emerging platforms are gaining traction and popularity, prompting us to ponder whether they truly live up to the buzz. Fortunately, we’ve delved into the depths to spare you the effort. One of the platforms purportedly riding the wave of attention is Mastodon Social.

Mastodon Social, named after the heavy metal band hailing from Atlanta, GA, was brought into existence by Eugen Rochko in October of 2016. Rochko, a German software developer and entrepreneur, grew up accustomed to the universal social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Frustrated by the dominance of American corporations and their governance of these platforms, Rochko took matters into his own hands and conceived Mastodon.

This innovative platform took the form of an open-source, decentralized social network, comprising independent servers organized in a federated structure. This arrangement empowers users to establish their own servers. Notably, in 2022, when Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter, Mastodon witnessed a significant surge in growth. It was recorded that 800,000 accounts were established on Mastodon, but this figure swiftly declined by 30%. The reason? Novice users felt that the platform was dominated by tech-savvy individuals, which made those less tech-savvy feel unwelcome.

Functionality of the Platform

At first glance, the platform can be overwhelming for outsiders. As previously mentioned, it consists of myriad social networks, all running on distinct servers, or ‘instances,’ as they are referred to. These instances communicate with one another through a mechanism known as the Fediverse. What exactly is the Fediverse? To add a touch of complexity for the average user, the Fediverse constitutes a loosely connected group of decentralized servers that operate on open-source standards. This setup permits users to interact and engage across multiple platforms. In simpler terms, it’s akin to liking a Tweet on Facebook or viewing an Instagram Reel on TikTok. Notably, Mastodon instances or servers are not obliged to be connected to the Fediverse, and the majority aren’t. A case in point is Truth Social, the social network linked to former US President Donald Trump, which remains disconnected from the Fediverse and has garnered a reputation as the most renowned Mastodon instance.

Integration of Several Platforms

Mastodon seamlessly amalgamates several familiar platforms into a unified experience. Much like Twitter, users can share brief messages, referred to as ‘toots,’ either with the world at large or specifically with chosen individuals. Each post is capped at a maximum of 500 characters (a substantial leap from Twitter’s 280-character limit). The platform facilitates the sharing of links, images, audio files, and videos. Users retain the autonomy to decide with whom they share, allowing for posts to be either public or private, accessible solely to their followers. Unlike platforms that employ algorithms to curate content, Mastodon displays posts from accounts users follow, with much of it organized through hashtags. Just like other networking sites, users follow hashtags that align with their interests, exposing them to content associated with those hashtags. Posts are presented in a timeline, sequenced chronologically, though not just one timeline—there are three. First, the Home Timeline encompasses all posts and reblogs from those you follow, providing the most familiar experience. Next comes the Local Timeline, showcasing content solely from your server if you possess one. Lastly, the Federated Timeline displays posts from Mastodon servers that you follow.

Mastodon Followers

Mastodon employs a concept of ‘followers,’ although it diverges significantly from the conventional notion of followers or friends. Users can follow any account, even if it’s on a different server, and the content from that account will feature on their Home Timeline. Accounts set to private require review and approval for followers. The platform permits users to mark posts as favorites, but the count of likes or favorites doesn’t surface on timelines. If you wish to amplify someone else’s post, you need to ‘boost’ or reblog it. Comparable to TikTok or Instagram, you can ‘bookmark’ posts or toots without notifying the account that shared them. A distinctive feature that contrasts with other social sites is Direct Messaging. However, it’s not what you might anticipate. While you can engage in back-and-forth messaging with other users on Mastodon, the messages aren’t strictly private. Instead, you create a post much like any other and restrict its visibility to only those tagged in the post. This approach ensures that the post is concealed from those who haven’t been tagged, yet it remains a post, potentially leading some users to be cautious about sharing private or personal information through this method.

Platform Moderation

Now, onto the topic of moderation. Traditional social networking sites typically employ centralized moderators to determine what content is considered safe or acceptable for sharing. Given Mastodon’s decentralized structure, users take on the responsibility of moderating content on their own servers. As one might expect, this arrangement has led to some challenges. Research conducted by Stanford University revealed alarming findings regarding the presence of child sexual abuse material. Over a span of two days, researchers identified 112 instances of child sexual abuse material out of approximately 325,000 analyzed posts. Shockingly, the first instance of such content was located within just five minutes. Furthermore, an examination of the Fediverse for the use of the top 20 child sexual abuse-related hashtags yielded 713 instances of hashtag use and 1,217 posts without associated media. While Mastodon users can report items, and the platform does offer moderator tools for review, it lacks built-in mechanisms for reporting child sexual abuse material

This leads us to the issue of sharing general NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content on the platform. Formerly, Tumblr served as a sanctuary for NSFW content creators, but as the platform implemented stricter policies against such content, users have migrated to Mastodon. The platform encompasses multiple instances or servers that predominantly focus on sharing explicit content. For instance, Switter, a hub for users and clients to connect with sex workers, boasts a user base exceeding 200,000. Numerous popular instances or servers have become havens for users seeking refuge from platforms like Tumblr and Twitter due to their content restrictions. These facts bring to the surface another question. As many users are trying to find a safe place to land, in terms of leaving Twitter, are they prepared to be introduced to content with no trigger warning or blurring of explicit content?

The overarching question remains: Can Mastodon sustain the growth of its user base, or will this momentum taper off? With Twitter’s rebranding as X and the ensuing frustrations of its users, a hunt for a new virtual haven to express thoughts and opinions is underway. Whether the discontented trickle of users will eventually cease or continue to seep into other platforms is uncertain. Predictions suggest that Mastodon’s growth might be curtailed due to its intricate framework. The platform is anticipated to cater to a niche audience, primarily due to its complexity. Notably, the absence of paid advertising or marketing means that there are no businesses driving the platform’s expansion. Will this platform eventually strike a chord with the average user, or will it eventually fade into obscurity? Only time holds the answer.

The Fediverse: A Decentralized Digital Universe of Connectivity and Community

The Fediverse, short for “federated universe,” refers to a collection of interconnected social media platforms and online communities that are built on the principles of federation and decentralization. It provides an alternative to traditional social media networks that are usually controlled by a single company.

In the Fediverse, each platform or community is known as an “instance” or a “node.” These instances are independently operated by different individuals, organizations, or communities, and they can have their own rules, policies, and moderation guidelines. Each instance is responsible for its own hosting, moderation, and user management.

Stricter Privacy

What makes the Fediverse unique is its federated architecture. It is based on a set of open protocols and standards, such as ActivityPub, which allow different instances to communicate and share content with each other. This means that users on one instance can interact with users on other instances, regardless of which platform they are using. For example, a user on one instance can follow and interact with a user on a completely different instance.

This decentralized nature of the Fediverse has several advantages. It promotes user privacy and data ownership since users have more control over their data and can choose the instance that aligns with their privacy preferences. It also allows for greater diversity and customization since each instance can have its own community guidelines and rules.

Fediverse’s Ecosystem

The Fediverse encompasses a wide range of platforms and communities, including microblogging platforms like Mastodon, which is often considered one of the most popular and prominent platforms in the Fediverse. Other examples include Pleroma, PeerTube for video sharing, Pixelfed for image sharing, and many more. Each of these platforms serves different purposes and caters to various interests.

Overall, the Fediverse provides a decentralized and interconnected social media ecosystem that encourages user freedom, privacy, and community self-governance. It offers an alternative to centralized social media networks by giving users more control over their online experiences and fostering a diverse and distributed online community.

Untangling the Web: The Power and Pitfalls of Social Media Threads

In the realm of social media, Instagram introduces Threads, a captivating new application that offers users a fresh and engaging experience. Threads, which requires users to have an Instagram account, was created to compete with Twitter. Upon downloading and launching the app, individuals are presented with the option to either create a new profile or seamlessly log in using their existing Instagram account credentials.

Threads welcomes users to customize their profiles by crafting unique bios and incorporating relevant links. Moreover, it grants the ability to effortlessly import information from their Instagram accounts, fostering a smooth transition into the Threads platform. With the flexibility to choose between a public or private profile, individuals can curate their online presence according to their desired level of privacy.

To enhance user connectivity, Threads also offers the opportunity to follow the same accounts as their Instagram counterparts. This feature allows for a seamless integration of existing social networks, enabling individuals to effortlessly stay connected with their preferred accounts across platforms.

With Threads, Instagram introduces a dynamic social media experience that amalgamates the familiarity of its predecessor with exciting new features, providing users with a truly captivating and immersive platform.

Privacy and Personal Data Collection

As you create your own account and begin to follow the prompts to join Threads, the following content is provided to you. Once you read the terms you are able to join the platform.

Powered by Instagram

Threads is part of the Instagram platform. We will use your Threads and Instagram information to personalize ads and other experiences across Threads and Instagram.

The fediverse

Future versions of Threads will work with the fediverse, a new type of social media network that allows people to follow and interact with each other on different platforms, like Mastodon.

Your Data

By joining Threads, you agree to the Meta Terms and Threads Supplemental Terms and acknowledge you have read the Meta Privacy Policy and Threads Supplemental Privacy Policy.

Is Thread’s a Safe App to Use?

Cyber Security experts and privacy experts warn consumers of the dangers associated with this platform.

In a recent CBS News article an associate professor of criminology and justice studies at Drexel University warns users to be on the lookout for privacy issues. The app is currently not available in the European Union, as they have strict privacy laws in place. Something to take note of since they have better consumer protection laws in place.

Personal data is collected through threads including health and fitness, financial information, contacts, browsing history, and location.

Although there are privacy concerns many users do feel as though their personal data, the success of Threads so far clearly shows many do not care about the personal data collected.

Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head, confirmed a significant milestone on June 5^th stating, “100 million people signed up for Threads in five days. I’m not sure I can wrap my mind around that fact. It’s insane; I can’t make sense of it.”

As this application continues to grow in popularity, it is being compared to its rival Twitter. Some are even calling Threads “The Twitter Killer”. Here’s why:

Threads is a text-based app allowing for pictures and videos to be uploaded as well. Users can have real-time conversations with one another allowing text posts to have a 500-character limit. With a similar appearance to Instagram Threads allows for users to share their posts from Threads directly to Instagram Stories.

According to CNN Business, despite Threads success and gained users, it is missing a lot of features Twitter currently offers. There is no desktop version available, direct messaging isn’t offered, and you are unable to edit posts.

Can you Search for Someone Through Threads?

As a Private Investigator, or someone conduct an online investigation, or social media investigation, this application is just another one to add to your list. If your person of interest has an Instagram account, checking Threads will be an important additional step to take when searching. Your subject may or may not have a public or private Threads account. According to Sportskeeda a gaming and tech site, “If someone you’re trying to follow has yet to join Threads, you will automatically follow them when that person joins the platform. Apart from that, you also have the option to follow specific friends by searching their names. Tap the Search Bar on the Search page to find your Instagram friend. Once you find them, tap the Follow button next to their profile name. You won’t find your Instagram friends in the search results if they haven’t joined Threads yet.

Will I be able to see a Public Threads account?

According to the Instagram help center, if a Threads profile is public, it is visible to everyone on Threads. You are also able to see the private profiles they follow and the private profiles that are following that account, like how Instagram currently works. Anyone and everyone will be able to see posts and feed on a public Threads account. Anyone can share links to an individual’s threads and all content is available to be shared through Instagram Stories. When public, any other users can share, repost, or quote another individual’s Thread content. Anyone on or off Threads can also embed another users’ posts.

As additional features are offered, and this app continues to gain traction more searching capabilities may become available. As always, this is something we will be monitoring at E-CHATTER, stay tune further additional information.