5 useful search engines for internet connected devices and services

Internet security has always been a concern of technology and cybersecurity professionals. With the number of online devices and services continuously increasing, it is important to have a clear and accurate view of the online presence of these devices and services in order to protect them and data from online threats. Several search engines for internet-connected devices, such as Shodan, Censys, Zoomeye, Fofa, and BinaryEdge, play an important role in this task.

They enable cybersecurity and other technology professionals to have a complete and accurate view of the online presence of their devices and services. Each offers detailed information about each device and service, including IP address, operating system, software and open ports. Moreover, they offer unique features that set them apart from other Internet search engines.

By monitoring these devices and services, cybersecurity professionals can take steps to protect them from online threats, including automatic port scanning, malware deployment, and vulnerability scanning. In addition, this search engine can also be useful for other technology professionals who want to monitor their brand’s online presence and protect their online reputation.

In this blog post, we will look at five of these tools, namely Shodan, Censys, Zoomeye, Fofa, and BinaryEdge, and discuss their unique features, applications, and importance for digital security.

Shodan

Shodan allows you to discover devices connected to the internet, including web servers, IP cameras, routers, and more. Shodan is unique in that it focuses on finding these devices and provides detailed information about each device, including IP address, operating system, software and open ports. It is a valuable tool for cybersecurity professionals looking to identify devices and services that may be exposed to potential security vulnerabilities.

sensors

sensors is another search engine that focuses on finding internet-connected devices. Like Shodan, Censys provides detailed information about each device, including IP address, operating system, software and open ports. However, unlike Shodan, Censys also focuses on device security and provides information about known vulnerabilities and SSL certificates. This information is valuable for monitoring and securing online devices and services.

Zoomeye

Zoomeye is a search platform for Internet-connected devices and services. Zoomeye allows users to search and monitor devices and services online and receive real-time alerts about changes in their search results. Zoomeye focuses on identifying online devices and services and provides detailed information about each device.

Fly away

Fly away provides detailed information about each device and service, while highlighting brand-related information. One of the interesting features is the possibility to use the search syntax with various filters, which makes it possible to use your own scripts and carry out more specific searches.

BinaryEdge

Finally, BinaryEdge is a security search engine that allows users to receive real-time alerts about changes in their search results. Similar to Shodan or Censys, information collected by BinaryEdge includes open ports and services with associated potential vulnerabilities, as well as data on accessible remote desktops, invalid SSL certificates, and network shares with configurations that could lead to a security breach. It is also possible to verify if any email account is involved in the data leak.

Bonus: GreyNoise

GreyNoise is a cybersecurity tool that allows users to monitor and analyze unwanted internet traffic. GreyNoise uses machine learning algorithms to identify and classify network activity that is considered noisy or could be considered harmful. The GreyNoise platform is constantly being updated to reflect the latest threats and trends in cybersecurity.

Unlike the other search engines mentioned above, GreyNoise focuses on identifying and classifying network activity that is considered interference, such as automatic port scanning, malware deployment, and vulnerability scanning. GreyNoise also offers an API that enables cybersecurity professionals to integrate the information provided by GreyNoise into their existing tools and systems.

Conclusion

This search engine offers unique and valuable features for cybersecurity and other technology professionals looking to monitor and protect their online devices and services; especially for companies that need to increase their threat intelligence efforts. When considering which scanner is right for your needs, it’s important to consider the specific features and capabilities of each and how they can be used to meet your specific needs.