What is Google hacking?
Maybe this question is little bit geeky but i hope you also want to know about it and that's why you are reading this Google hacking tutorial.
Many people who are not familiar with the meaning of "Google hacking" they think that it's something related to hacking of Google but it's not like that. Few days back, i was also thinking same. But after knowing thoroughly about Google hacking, i felt - "Ohh.... god i was so wrong".
So, i decided to share the basic information about Google hacking through this tutorial and hope you will find it useful for you. In this tutorial, i am going to explain two things - "what is Google hacking?" and “what are Google Search Operators?". Let's grab the detailed explanations:
What is Google Hacking?
Google hacking is a hacking technique that uses advanced Google Search and Google search operators to find specific security holes in the configuration and computer code that websites use.
In simple words, Google hacking is hack with the help of Google.
Google is the most renowned and most powerful search engine. Since, it crawls and indexes all the websites very effectively that are available on the internet. So, Google Search is the best place to get more sensitive data, security holes and several other things which you wish to get for hacking.
Google Hacking involves the perfect use of advanced Google search operators to search out specific or sensitive information. Johnny Long (a renowned computer security expert, author of "Hacking con Google/ Hacking with Google") was the first person who noted - how Google search operators can leak sensitive data of a website. He also created a great list of several useful Google search operators and its usage in hacking.
Let's now understand - What are Google Search Operators and what are the uses of Google search operators for hacking?
What are Google Search Operators?
Google search operators are terms used in search queries to get better search results. It allows you to see only the specific set of results which you wish to see in search results.
The use of Google search operators in Google Hacking is known as Google Dorks. Here's the list of some basic Google search operators which is used widely in Google Hacking.
Advance search operator syntax is like: operator:search_term
(1) site:
Site search operator is one of the most helpful operators used to search within a website. If you wish to search something within a website, site search operator will help you to search directly on Google search.
For example: if you want to search for "Android" on howtouncle.com then use site operator as - Android site:howtouncle.com
In the search result, Google will show all the pages from howtouncle.com which has the "Android" in content. Please, don't include any spaces between the operator and your query.
(2) filetype:
filetype search operator is used to search out a specific type of file. Only you have to add the extension after the operator and you will get appropriate search result.
For example: If you want to search for PDF file then use this operator as - filetype:pdf
You will get the search result related to only PDF files.
(3) cache:
cache search operator will help you to see the cache version of a web URL. You have to simply add the website URL after this operator to get the search result as - cache:howtouncle.com
(4) inurl:
The use of inurl operator will restrict the search within the URLs which contains the search term. Use this operator as - inurl:howtouncle
(5) intitle:
intitle operator is used to find results which contains the specific keyword is in title. Use this operator as - intitle:android
(6) allintitle:
Basically, allintitle search operator is the advanced version of intitle operator. It is used to search out the results with all given keywords in title. Use this operator as - allintitle:android apps
(7) intext:
intext search operator is used to find out all the pages with the specified keyword. Use this operator as - intext:smartphones
(8) allintext:
allintext search operator helps you to get search results with all the query terms specified in search.Use this operator as - allintext:android smartphones
Various Google Search Operators available to get better search results. Click here to see complete guide on Google search Operator.
In this tutorial, i have only only explained some basic things like: what is Google hacking and what are Google Search Operators? but in upcoming tutorial i am going to explain how to use Google search operators for hacking and several other informations related to Google hacking. Stay connected with us to grab that.
Feel free to share your view about Google hacking and Google Search Operators through comments. Your comments will be always appreciated here.
If you are looking for more fun-facts tutorials related to Google and Google applications, step by step Google search tricks, how to guide then check out our Google tips and tricks section.
