Zhaleff — OSINT Researcher, Web Dev

Osinter, a web developer… I’m not entirely sure, really. I’ve always wanted to be something, but I’m not certain this is quite for me.

Github HollowSec

About MySelf

(or, the awkward truth about how I got here)

‘I started from the bottom and began digging, because diamonds are always underground.’

About me

The Unlikely Beginning

Programming was never my dream. Honestly? I wanted to study astronomy. The stars, the planets, the vast emptiness of space — that was my thing. But one day I opened a coding tutorial and thought, "Well, this looks easy enough."

Spoiler: It wasn't. But I was already too deep. Then I discovered OSINT — geolocation, pattern recognition, connecting digital dots. It felt like real detective work, not just brute force or pentesting.

So here I am: one year in, four surviving projects (five if we count the embarrassing one I hide), and a ton of questions. I'm not an expert. Just curious. And that's enough for now.

See My Messy Code HollowSec Community Ask Me Anything

What is OSINT and its variants? (if you don't get anything, don't worry, neither do I)

OSINT Branches

OSINT branches are basically different ways of referring to a type of OSINT depending on the methods you use to gather information. The most popular ones today are:

GEOSINT

SOCINT

SIGINT

HUMINT

ELINT

IMINT

Tools of OSINT

Each OSINT branch relies on different tools — from simple search engines and public databases to specialised platforms for social media analysis, geolocation, and image verification.

Tip: Never rely on a tool forever; they're just tools, not everything.

OSINT Ethics

OSINT is built on publicly available info, but that doesn't mean anything goes. Respecting privacy, knowing legal boundaries, and thinking about the people behind the data is just as important as finding it.

My Projects from 2025

(Projects for Ricing in hyprland ,arch linux)

HyprCraft

HyprCraft is a beautiful and thoughtfully organised collection of dotfiles and configurations for Hyprland, created to deliver a refined, efficient and visually engaging desktop experience for Linux users.

i Read more

HyprDots

Hyprdots is a minimal and highly customisable Linux dotfiles collection built around the Hyprland window manager, designed to provide a clean, efficient and visually consistent desktop experience.

BlackNode

BlackNode is a modern and highly modular hacking environment built for HollowSec, designed to support ethical hacking and security research while providing a clean, efficient and well-structured workflow.

Want to see more about all my projects? Just click here.

HollowSec Community

A relaxed little corner for cybersec enthusiasts

Need a hand?

Stuck on OSINT, pentesting, or some random weird bug? Just drop in and ask — no question is too small.

Share your wisdom

Got tips, tools or experience? Help others out — we all learn better when we share.

Just hang out

Chat about new tools, latest news, random hacks — or just have a laugh. Everyone’s welcome, no gatekeeping.

Join us on Discord

Get in Touch

Fancy a chat, a collab, or just saying hello? Here’s where you can find me.

(I’ll get back to you when I’m not lost in some rabbit hole)

Email

zhaleff@gmail.com

Best for proper questions or longer chats

Discord

zhaleff

Quickest way to reach me — or join HollowSec server

GitHub

@zhaleff

All my messy code and projects live here

Twitter / X

@zephartw

Random thoughts, OSINT finds, and occasional memes

Discord or email for anything serious. Twitter for the chaos. Cheers, mate.