What is Google hacking?

Google hacking is the term used when a hacker tries to find exploitable targets and sensitive data by using search engines. The Google Hacking Database (GHDB) is a database of queries that identify sensitive data. Although Google blocks some of the better known Google hacking queries, nothing stops a hacker from crawling your site and launching the Google Hacking Database queries directly onto the crawled content.

he Google Hacking Database is located at http://johnny.ihackstuff.com. More information about Google hacking can be found on: http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=170880&rl=1.

What a hacker can do if your site is vulnerable?

Information that the Google Hacking Database identifies:

• Advisories and server vulnerabilities
• Error messages that contain too much information
• Files containing passwords
• Sensitive directories
• Pages containing logon portals
• Pages containing network or vulnerability data such as firewall logs.

How to check for Google hacking vulnerabilities

The easiest way to check whether your web site & applications have Google hacking vulnerabilities, is to use a Web Vulnerability Scanner. A Web Vulnerability Scanner scans your entire website and automatically checks for pages that are identified by Google hacking queries. (Note: Your web vulnerability scanner must be able to launch Google hacking queries).

OnlineHackscan checks for SQL Injection, Cross Site Scripting and many other vulnerabilities.

Preventing Google hacking attacks

Remove all pages identified by Google hacking queries

Check if your website is vulnerable to attack with OnlineHackscan

It checks password strength on authentication pages and automatically audits shopping carts, forms, dynamic content and other web applications. As the scan is being completed, the software produces detailed reports that pinpoint where vulnerabilities exist.