TL;DR
Google hacking — also known as Google dorking — is a reconnaissance technique where attackers use advanced search operators to uncover publicly exposed vulnerabilities on your website, such as unencrypted credentials, open directories, and outdated software. Defending against it requires a combination of encrypting sensitive data, using robots directives (robots.txt, robots meta tags, or X-robots-tag) to control what search engines index, and running vulnerability scans to close exposure gaps before attackers can exploit them.
Google hacking (sometimes called Google dorking) is when hackers use search engines to identify security vulnerabilities. With a bit of time and search know-how, a hacker could figure out the best way to attack you.
Eliminating your site from Google isn't smart. Your customers need to find you, and most of them will head to search engines to do that. But you can take preventive steps to ensure that hackers can't find out how to attack you via Google.
How does a Google hack work?
A Google hack is a research session based on data you've made available to the public via a search engine. To protect yourself and your company, you must assess what you let Google see and what should be kept private.
Hackers could use any website for research. But since Google has a 90 percent market share, the company name has become synonymous with search. That's why we call this a Google hack rather than a simple search engine hack.
It might seem strange to use something like a search engine to spot security vulnerabilities. But unfortunately, this technique is incredibly effective.
Studies suggest that about half of all development teams push vulnerable code live because they've run out of testing time. During Google hacking, experts seek out every point of vulnerability.
What do hackers look for during a Google hack?
They might look for:
- Cameras: Do you have connected devices recording important movements?
- Directories: Can people quickly find the names and contact information for important staff?
- Passwords: Do you index folders filled with sensitive information? Do you encrypt that information?
- Portals: Can people find your login landing pages?
- Versions: Are you using software with known vulnerabilities? Do you resist downloading security patches?
Hackers use advanced search operators to make their work quicker and more efficient. When combined with the name of your site, these terms deliver pages or text that's very specific and easy to parse.
At the end of a Google hack, your opponent knows quite a lot about you and what you're doing to keep your company safe. That attacker can't launch an attack via Google, but the research could help that person plan their next steps.
How can you prevent Google hacking attacks?
You'll want to protect against this kind of attack. To start, encrypt all sensitive information, like payment information, usernames, passwords, and messages.
How do robots directives help limit your exposure?
Then, use one of three Google tags on your content to direct the way search bots index (or skip) critical information.
| Directive | Applies To | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| robots.txt | Entire site / crawl behavior | Reduce server load from crawling; cannot block private content from indexation |
| Robots meta tag | Individual HTML pages | Control how a specific HTML page appears in results, or exclude it entirely |
| X-robots-tag | Non-HTML pages (e.g., PDFs) | Control how non-HTML pages appear in results, or block them from showing up |
Your web developer may have strong opinions about which tag is right for you and your company. Once you implement your chosen code, watch your traffic scores to ensure you're not keeping consumers away from pages they consider critical.
What tools can you use to find exposed files?
You can also use a vulnerability scanner to ensure that you don't expose files or pages that should remain hidden. The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) lists several of these tools, and some come with free scans you can use before you buy.
Work with Okta
What if a Google dorking session has already happened? How can you protect your company?
Learn more about how you can boost your security with Okta.
Frequently asked questions
What is Google hacking, and is it illegal?
Google hacking — also called Google dorking — is the practice of using advanced search operators to find publicly exposed security vulnerabilities on a website. The technique itself relies on publicly available search engine data, but using the findings to gain unauthorized access to systems is illegal.
What kinds of vulnerabilities can a Google hack expose?
Attackers can use Google hacking to surface connected cameras, staff directories, unencrypted password files, login portals, and software running known vulnerabilities — essentially any sensitive information your site inadvertently makes available to search engine crawlers.
Why do so many organizations have exploitable vulnerabilities?
Studies suggest that nearly half of all development teams push vulnerable code to production because they run out of testing time, leaving security gaps that Google hacking can quickly identify.
How do robots directives protect against Google hacking?
Google provides three directives — robots.txt, robots meta tags, and X-robots-tag — that let you control how search bots crawl and index your content. Each serves a different scope: robots.txt addresses crawl behavior site-wide, robots meta controls individual HTML pages, and X-robots-tag manages non-HTML files like PDFs.
What should you do if a Google dorking session has already targeted your site?
If you suspect your site has already been researched via Google dorking, the priority is to immediately encrypt sensitive data, audit your robots directives to limit further exposure, and run a vulnerability scan to identify and close any open attack surfaces before they can be exploited.
Are there free tools available to scan for Google hacking vulnerabilities?
Yes. The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) maintains a list of vulnerability scanning tools, several of which offer free scans that you can use to assess your exposure before committing to a paid solution.
References
How Google Retains More than 90 Percent of Market Share. (April 2018). Insider.
DevSecOps Study Finds That Nearly Half of Organizations Consciously Deploy Vulnerable Applications Due to Time Pressures. (August 2020). PR Newswire.
Robots FAQs. Google Search Central.
Vulnerability Scanning Tools. OWSAP.
