OSINT Search Engines
Specialized search engines and techniques for discovering information across various sources and platforms
Shodan
Device Search
Shodan is a search engine for Internet-connected devices. Unlike traditional search engines that crawl the web, Shodan s...
Key Features
- •Device type identification
- •Vulnerability scanning
- •Geographic location mapping
Censys
Internet Scanning
Censys is a search engine that allows researchers to ask questions about the devices and networks that compose the Inter...
Key Features
- •Certificate search and analysis
- •Host discovery and fingerprinting
- •Vulnerability identification
Google Dorks
Advanced Search Techniques
Google Dorks (or Google Dorking) involves using advanced search operators in Google to find specific strings of text wit...
Key Features
- •File type filtering
- •Site-specific searches
- •Cache access
Wayback Machine
Web Archive
The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web that allows users to see archived versions of web pages a...
Key Features
- •Historical website snapshots
- •URL search capabilities
- •Timeline view of website changes
Spyse
Internet Assets Search
Spyse is a search engine that collects, analyzes, and delivers structured data about internet assets. It helps security ...
Key Features
- •Domain and IP intelligence
- •SSL/TLS certificate search
- •DNS records analysis
Hunter.io
Email Search
Hunter.io is a search engine specialized in discovering email addresses associated with a domain name. It helps find the...
Key Features
- •Email pattern detection
- •Domain search
- •Email verification
Searchcode
Code Search
Searchcode is a free source code search engine that helps find real-world examples of functions, API usage, and librarie...
Key Features
- •Multi-language code search
- •Syntax highlighting
- •Repository filtering
Grep.app
Code Search
Grep.app is a search engine for searching across a half million git repositories. It allows you to find specific strings...
Key Features
- •Regular expression search
- •Language filtering
- •Repository filtering
Advanced Search Techniques
Master the art of advanced search operators and techniques to uncover hidden information across various platforms. Our comprehensive guide covers everything from Google Dorking to specialized search syntax for different engines.
Choosing the Right Search Tool
Different OSINT investigations require different search approaches. Here's a quick guide to help you select the most appropriate tool for your needs.
| Search Type | Best Tools | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Device Discovery | Shodan, Censys, Spyse | When investigating internet-connected devices, IoT systems, or network infrastructure |
| Historical Content | Wayback Machine, Archive.today | When researching deleted content or tracking website changes over time |
| Code Search | Searchcode, Grep.app, GitHub Search | When looking for code snippets, exposed credentials, or technical implementations |
| Email Discovery | Hunter.io, Clearbit Connect | When identifying contact information associated with organizations or domains |
| Advanced Web Search | Google Dorks, Bing, DuckDuckGo | When performing targeted searches for specific file types, content, or exposed information |