First discovered by Johnny Long, an American security researcher, Google Dorking is an advanced method for searching on google using search queries that reveal more information than you will find with normal Google searches. In 2002, Long created a collection of these search queries in what is called the Google Hacking Database (GHDB).
With google dorks you can, for example, search for keyword within a specific website using the ‘site’ modifier: site:reddit.com “Stenography” . This search will fetch results of the word ‘Stenography within the website ‘reddit.com’.
Another useful modifier is the ‘filetype’ modifier. A use case scenario is looking for PDF files containing a given phrase like in the following example: filetype:pdf “A Song of Ice and Fire”. This query will retrieve results of PDF files on the internet that contain the phrase, “A Song of Ice and Fire”.
While Google Dorking can be used by hackers with malicious intent to find sensitive information on the internet, it can also be used in a number of ways helpful ways:
- Research
It can be used to find information, academic papers, or data within a particular website.
- Job searching
Finding Job postings or employee information on company websites.
- Public Records Searching
Locating public records such as court documents an property records with ease.
Google Dorks should be used responsibly and in accordance with Google’s terms of service. You can find the link to the database of Google Dorks here.