SafeUM
Home Blog Services Download Help About Recharge

Axarhöfði 14, 110 Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland - 2015
SafeUM
Blog
Services
Download
Help
About
Recharge
Menu
Archive
TOP Security!
28 Aug 2014

Google dorks – FBI warning about dangerous ‘new’ search tool

The FBI has issued a warning to police and other emergency response personnel about a lethal new tool which ‘malicious actors’ have been using to deadly effect against American government institutions – Google dorks.

The warning refers specifically to ‘Google dorks’  or “Google dorking” – ie the use of specialized search syntax,  using terms such as “filetype:sql”.

‘Google dorks’ refers to search syntax which allow users to search within a specific website (using the term in:url) or for specific file types, and can thus be used to search databases. Such search terms are widely known, and legal – the warning alerts units who may not be aware of the technique to secure databases properly.

Google dorks: Weapon of the ‘malicious’?

“In October 2013, unidentified attackers used Google dorks to find websites running vulnerable versions of a proprietary internet message board software product, according to security researchers,” the FBI warning says.

“After searching for vulnerable software identifiers, the attackers compromised 35,000 websites and were able to create new administrator accounts. ”

“For example, a simple “operator:keyword” syntax, such as “filetype:xls intext:username,” in the standard search box would retrieve Excel spreadsheets containing usernames. Additionally, freely available online tools can run automated scans using multiple dork queries.”

The warning refers to several online resources commonly used to automate “Google dork” queries – and offers advice on the scope of such search terms.syntax.

Shock as web users employ ‘search’

The warning also offers a useful link to Google’s own testing centre for pre-empting such attacks, the Google Hacking Database. Webmasters can use this to check whether files are “visible” to Google dorks, then hide them if they wish.

The warning refers to “malicious cyber actors” and refers to a notorious case in which reporters were accused of “hacking” a website by using freely available information and an automated tool, GNUGet.

However, the warning is not really meant to highlight a “new” technique, i.e Google dorks, but to warn webmasters to make their websites more secure.

“This warning from the DHS and the FBI was mostly intended to give law enforcement and other organizations a sense of urgency to take a hard look at their own websites’ security,” Ars comments. “Local police departments have increasingly become the target of “hacktivists.” Recent examples include attacks on the Albuquerque Police Department’s network in March following the shooting of a homeless man and attacks on St. Louis County police networks in response to the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri.”

The warning says, “Ensure sensitive websites are not indexed in search engines. Google USPER provides webmaster tools to remove entire sites, individual URLs, cached copies, and directories from Google’s index.”

Tags:
FBI Google information leaks
Source:
We Live Security
2166
Other NEWS
3 Jul 2020 safeum news imgage An encrypted messaging service has been infiltrated by police
4 May 2020 safeum news imgage Two-Factor Authentication ​What Is It and Why You Should Use It
12 Dec 2019 safeum news imgage Encryption is under threat - this is how it affects you
4 Nov 2019 safeum news imgage Should Big Decisions Be Based on Data or Your Intuition?
7 Jun 2018 safeum news imgage VPNFilter malware infecting 500,000 devices is worse than we thought
4 Jun 2018 safeum news imgage Hackers target Booking.com in criminal bid to steal hundreds of thousands from customers
1 Jun 2018 safeum news imgage Operator of World's Top Internet Hub Sues German Spy Agency
30 May 2018 safeum news imgage US says North Korea behind malware attacks
29 May 2018 safeum news imgage Facebook and Google targeted as first GDPR complaints filed
25 May 2018 safeum news imgage A new reason to not buy these cheap Android devices
24 May 2018 safeum news imgage Flaws in smart pet devices, apps could come back to bite owners
23 May 2018 safeum news imgage Google sued for 'clandestine tracking' of 4.4m UK iPhone users' browsing data
21 May 2018 safeum news imgage LocationSmart reportedly leaked phone location data onto the web
18 May 2018 safeum news imgage The SEC created its own scammy ICO to teach investors a lesson
17 May 2018 safeum news imgage Thieves suck millions out of Mexican banks in transfer heist
All news
SafeUM
Confidential Terms of Use Our technologies Company
Follow us
Download
SafeUM © Safe Universal Messenger

Axarhöfði 14,
110 Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland - 2015