Keep these fields in the source log
- Exact query and language
- Engine, filters and access time
- Original URL, author and publication date
Public research resources · FR / EN
Web and document search · OSINT
How can a claim and its original source be located ? Practical method, external tools, source log and interpretation limits.
External services · no results hosted here · queries sent only when you click a provider link.
How can a claim and its original source be located ?
- Extract distinctive words, proper names and exact phrases without adding a conclusion.
- Start broadly, then test a quoted phrase, a site and a document format.
- Compare originals, translations and republications; follow cited links upstream.
- Open the page, record author and dates, and retain what answers the specific question.
What the method cannot establish alone
Result counts, ranking and repetition do not measure truth. Several republications may depend on a single source.
External tools for this pathway
Editorial selection of external services and resources, described using their portals or documentation. References reviewed on 3 October 2026; availability, prices, quotas and interface languages can change. Subscriptions and paid features were not tested.
6 catalogue entries
Google · recherche avancée ↗
Combine an exact phrase, domain, language and file format to locate a publication.
Limit: A result snippet may be outdated; open and date the source.
Microsoft Bing ↗
Compare another engine’s results and search phrase variants.
Limit: Ranking and indexing do not measure reliability.
DuckDuckGo ↗
Search public pages, phrases and documents through another entry point.
Limit: Two engines may share sources; their results are not two confirmations.
Brave Search ↗
Broaden a web search and compare originals with republications.
Limit: Generated answers do not replace the cited documents.
Mojeek ↗
Search a phrase in an alternative web index and explore less visible sources.
Limit: Coverage varies across languages and websites.
Google Scholar ↗
Locate papers, authors and versions of a research publication.
Limit: A citation or inclusion in the index does not guarantee methodological quality.
No matching catalogue entry. Try another term or reset the filters.
These downloads contain tool descriptions and links, not provider search results. Retain limitations, references and review dates when reusing the catalogue.
Continue with the site’s detailed guides and data
Verify an online identityGuide or reference dataset →Verify a company and its directorsGuide or reference dataset →Verify an image or videoGuide or reference dataset →Map public digital infrastructureGuide or reference dataset →Build an OSINT timelineGuide or reference dataset →Compare source reliabilityGuide or reference dataset →
Questions about tools and external searches
Where are search results displayed?
On the selected provider’s website, in a new tab. IIS does not retrieve, host or display investigation results. Directory filters only filter the editorial catalogue.
Is the typed query stored?
The launchpad builds links inside your browser, without sending the query to IIS or storing it in browser storage. Clicking a prepared link sends the query to the named provider, under its own rules.
Are all tools free and available in every language?
No. Access may require an account, subscription, software or quota. The catalogue is available in French and English; providers set their interface languages, coverage and conditions.
Does no result prove that a fact is false?
No. Index coverage, spelling, language, access limits and capture dates can explain a missing result. Record what was searched and what remains unknown.