In the digital age, where information is as precious as gold, privacy is a currency under constant threat. Google Dorking a/k/a Search Engine Hacking- which is the use of advanced search syntax, is a critical skill to have when it comes to online safety.
Google Dorking can uncover information that is accidentally exposed on the internet, offering insights into possible breaches of privacy.
Here are simple Google Dorks that anyone can use to check for potential information leaks that could put your privacy at risk:
Site-specific search: Use site:example.com followed by your name, email, or personal information to find information published about yourself on a specific website.
File type search: To discover exposed documents that may contain your personal information, use filetype:pdf or filetype:xls followed by your details.
URL search: Use inurl:profiles or inurl:username to locate profiles or pages that might contain your information.
“Your Name” You should certainly be searching for your name online in quotations.
This kind of search you should conduct monthly, or more often depending on whether you are currently under attack online, or if you have a strong online or media presence.
You will often find more relevant content that includes exactly your first name followed by your last name, without words in between. Anything actually having to do with you on the internet, so long as it is indexed will most likely come up under this search.
If you have a more common name, try typing “Your Name” + “Your City” to narrow results.
“YourPassword” Should be searched regularly along with scanning haveibeenpwned.com in order to check to see if your password has been leaked online for the public to see. You would be surprised at how common this is.
By becoming familiar with Google Dorking (a/k/a Search Engine Hacking), individuals can proactively identify and mitigate privacy risks.
Knowledge, after all, is power—especially when it comes to protecting our privacy in the vast, uncharted territories of the internet.