Mastering Advanced Googling Techniques: How to Search Like a Pro

In today’s fast-paced digital world, the ability to search efficiently on Google is a must-have skill, especially for security researchers, developers, or anyone who wants to dig deeper into the vast online world. While many of us rely on basic search queries, there’s a more powerful way to use Google—by mastering advanced search operators.

In this blog, I’ll take you through some of the most effective Google search techniques (also known as Google dorking) to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. From finding specific web pages to locating hidden files, you can refine your search results with precision.

What Is Google Dorking?

Google dorking is the use of advanced search operators to find very specific data on the internet. It’s like hacking Google to make it work for you, retrieving precisely what you need. Whether you’re looking for emails, files, or hidden web pages, dorking can be your go-to solution for fine-tuned results.

Let’s dive into some powerful search operators.

Key Search Operators You Should Know

Here are some essential operators that will supercharge your search abilities:

Operator	Example	Description
site:	site:tryhackme.com	Returns results only from the specified website address.
inurl:	inurl:admin	Finds URLs containing the specified word.
filetype:	filetype:pdf	Returns files of a specific type (e.g., PDF, DOCX).
intitle:	intitle:admin	Returns pages with the specified word in the title.

Finding Web Pages

You can locate specific pages within a website or find pages containing specific keywords. For example, to find all the web pages related to DynamoDB on Gumroad:

``` site:gumroad.com dynamodb ```

Want to find web pages with a particular phrase in the title? Use:

``` allintitle:“support this” site:gumroad.com ```

You can also use related: to find similar websites, such as:

``` related:gumroad.com ```

Combine operators to refine your search further. For instance, to look for bug bounty pages related to security:

``` (inurl:security OR inurl:bug-bounty) + “gumroad” ```

Searching for Emails

Need to find email addresses? Use Google to locate Gmail accounts:

``` “@gmail.com” ```

You can search for work emails by guessing the format or searching by domain:

``` “@companydomain.com” ```

If you’re on a web page and want to extract emails, here’s a quick JavaScript trick to log all emails found on the page using Chrome DevTools:

```javascript var elems = document.body.getElementsByTagName("*"); var re = new RegExp("(^[a-zA-Z0-9_.+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9-]+.[a-zA-Z0-9-.]+$)"); for (var i = 0; i < elems.length; i++) { if (re.test(elems[i].innerHTML)) { console.log(elems[i].innerHTML); } } ```

Finding Files

To search for specific file types such as spreadsheets or presentations, try these:

``` filetype:csv OR filetype:xls OR filetype:ppt ```

Need to find Google Docs or competitor sales pitches? Here’s how:

``` site:docs.google.com “gumroad” ```

Or to locate case studies:

``` inurl:hubspot-case-study -site:hubspot.com ```

SEO Dorking

SEO enthusiasts can also benefit from Google dorking to find sites with specific keywords in the anchor text or research blog posts by keywords in their title:

``` inanchor:“cyber security” ```

Or to identify companies using a specific widget, use:

``` intext:“Powered by Intercom” -site:intercom.com ```

Coupons & Deals

You can even use Google to hunt down coupon codes. Here’s an example for searching for referral codes on a specific website:

``` site:curology.com (“coupon” | “referral code”) ```

And don’t forget to check Twitter for promo codes:

``` site:twitter.com “meundies” “coupon” ```

Conclusion

Advanced Googling or dorking can take your search skills to the next level. Whether you’re looking for emails, hidden files, or specific web pages, these techniques will allow you to navigate the vast internet more efficiently.

Happy Googling, and remember to use these powerful tools responsibly!