Google hacking

Google hacking is a term that refers to the act of creating complex search engine queries in order to filter through large amounts of search results for information related to computer security. In its malicious format it can be used to detect websites that are vulnerable to numerous exploits and vulnerabilities as well as locate private, sensitive information about others, such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and passwords. This filtering is performed by using advanced Google operators . While Google was the original tool of the Google hackers, many of the tactics and operators can be used on other search engines, such as MSN Search and Yahoo.

Basics

Google Hacking involves using Google operators to locate specific strings of text within search results. Some of the more popular examples are using Google to find specific versions of vulnerable Web applications. The following search query would locate all web pages that have that particular text contained within them. It is normal for default installations of applications to include their running version in every page they serve, e.g. "Powered by XOOPS 2.2.3 Final"

The following search query will locate all websites that have the words "admbook" and "version" in the title of the website. It also checks to ensure that the web page being accessed is a PHP file.

intitle:admbook intitle:version filetype:php

Another technique is searching for insecure coding practices in the public code indexed by Google Code Search or other source code search engines.

One can even retrieve the Username & Password list from Microsoft FrontPage Servers by inputing the given microscript in Google search field: -

"#-Frontpage-" inurl:administrators.pwd

Devices connected to the Internet can be found. A search string such as inurl:"ViewerFrame?Mode=" will find public web cameras.

		Google Help : Cheat Sheet
Here's a quick list of some of our most popular tools to help refine and improve your search. For additional help with Google Web Search or any other Google product, you can visit our main Google Help page.
OPERATOR EXAMPLE		FINDS PAGES CONTAINING...
vacation hawaii		the words vacation and Hawaii .
Maui OR Hawaii		either the word Maui or the word Hawaii
"To each his own"		the exact phrase to each his own
virus –computer		the word virus but NOT the word computer
+sock		Only the word sock, and not the plural or any tenses or synonyms
~auto loan		loan info for both the word auto and its synonyms: truck, car, etc.
define:computer		definitions of the word computer from around the Web.
red * blue		the words red and blue separated by one or more words.
I'm Feeling Lucky		Takes you directly to first web page returned for your query.
CALCULATOR OPERATORS		MEANING		TYPE INTO SEARCH BOX
+		addition		45 + 39
-		subtraction		45 – 39
*		multiplication		45 * 39
/		division		45 / 39
% of		percentage of		45% of 39
^		raise to a power		2^5 (2 to the 5th power)
ADVANCED OPERATORS		MEANING		WHAT TO TYPE INTO SEARCH BOX (& DESCRIPTION OF RESULTS)
site:		Search only one website		admission site:www.stanford.edu (Search Stanford Univ. site for admissions info.)
[#]…[#]		Search within a range of numbers		DVD player $100..150 (Search for DVD players between $100 and $150)
link:		linked pages		link:www.stanford.edu (Find pages that link to the Stanford University website.)
info:		Info about a page		info:www.stanford.edu (Find information about the Stanford University website.)
related:		Related pages		related:www.stanford.edu (Find websites related to the Stanford University website.)