Capterra Glossary
Google Dork Query
A Google dork query is a custom Google search query that uses a specific string of advanced search operators to locate information that is not intended for public viewing on the internet. Google dork queries allow cyber hackers to identify log files that contain account usernames and passwords, financial information, camera security vulnerabilities, and other sensitive data. Cyber hackers then use this sensitive information to commit identity theft, participate in cyberwarfare, and spy on individuals through their deviceʻs camera. Businesses often follow cybersecurity best practices to prevent Google dork queries from uncovering their personal data. These practices include, when possible, refraining from indexing websites that contain sensitive data online and using a directory-level configuration file (.htaccess) to protect company directories from hackers.
What Small and Midsize Businesses Need to Know About Google Dork Query
Small to midsize corporations often encrypt their data using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) level encryption. AES encryption is a block cipher chosen by the U.S government as an encryption standard that should be used to protect classified information. By using AES encryption to encrypt their online company directories, companies can ensure that even if a Google dork query uncovers a company directory, their sensitive data will be deemed unreadable.
Related Terms
- Synchronous
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Intranet
- Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Managed Service Provider (MSP)
- Haptics
- WAN (Wide-Area Network)
- Service-oriented Architecture (SOA)
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Service-Level Agreement (SLA)
- Scalability
- Data Center
- Authorization
- Multitenancy