arXiv:2601.01492cs.IRcs.CY2026-01

利用种子文件元数据追踪网络犯罪行为,实现大规模情报分析。

Breadcrumbs in the Digital Forest: Tracing Criminals through Torrent Metadata with OSINT

  • 通过五步OSINT流程整合追踪器响应与IP信息
  • 发现6万+唯一IP的下载模式及隐私工具使用特征
  • 适合执法与网络安全领域用于可疑行为识别

本研究探讨了比特流(BitTorrent)网络中公开可获取的元数据在开源情报(OSINT)中的应用潜力,重点聚焦用户画像与行为分析。尽管点对点(P2P)网络在隐私与性能方面已有广泛研究,其元数据却极少被用于调查。本文提出一个概念验证,展示如何通过追踪器响应、种子索引数据及增强的IP元数据,揭示高风险行为模式。研究采用五步式OSINT流程:源识别、数据收集、数据增强、行为分析与结果呈现。数据来自The Pirate Bay和UDP追踪器,涵盖超过60,000个唯一IP地址,涉及206个热门种子。数据经地理定位、匿名状态标注及儿童性剥削材料(CEM)关联标记增强。针对敏感电子书的案例研究显示,该方法可辅助识别潜在非法内容兴趣。网络分析揭示了用户集群、共下载模式以及可疑用户使用隐私工具的特征。研究表明,公开的种子元数据可用于可扩展、自动化的OSINT用户画像。该工作为数字取证提供了新方法,从噪声数据中提取有效信号,适用于执法、网络安全与威胁分析。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

This work investigates the potential of torrent metadata as a source for open-source intelligence (OSINT), with a focus on user profiling and behavioral analysis. While peer-to-peer (P2P) networks such as BitTorrent are well studied with respect to privacy and performance, their metadata is rarely used for investigative purposes. This work presents a proof of concept demonstrating how tracker responses, torrent index data, and enriched IP metadata can reveal patterns associated with high-risk behavior. The research follows a five-step OSINT process: source identification, data collection, enrichment, behavioral analysis, and presentation of the results. Data were collected from The Pirate Bay and UDP trackers, yielding a dataset of more than 60,000 unique IP addresses across 206 popular torrents. The data were enriched with geolocation, anonymization status, and flags of involvement in child exploitation material (CEM). A case study on sensitive e-books shows how such data can help detect possible interest in illicit content. Network analysis highlights peer clustering, co-download patterns, and the use of privacy tools by suspicious users. The study shows that publicly available torrent metadata can support scalable and automated OSINT profiling. This work adds to digital forensics by proposing a new method to extract useful signals from noisy data, with applications in law enforcement, cybersecurity, and threat analysis.

OSINT数字取证行为分析

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