Shodan is one of the most fascinating and powerful tools in the cybersecurity and networking world. Let’s break it down:

🌐 What Is Shodan?

Shodan is a search engine for internet-connected devices. Unlike Google, which indexes websites, Shodan indexes devices like:

• Servers
• Routers
• Webcams
• Smart TVs
• Industrial control systems
• IoT devices (Internet of Things)

It scans the internet and collects metadata about devices — including open ports, services running, banners, and sometimes even vulnerabilities.

🔍 How Does Shodan Work?

Shodan continuously scans the internet using various protocols (like HTTP, FTP, SSH, Telnet, etc.) and records:

• IP address
• Port number
• Service banner (info returned when connecting to a port)
• Location
• Device type
• Software version

This data is then searchable through Shodan’s website or API.

🛠️ Example Use Cases

🧠 Example Search Queries

• apache — Find servers running Apache
• port:22 — Devices with SSH open
• country:"US" — Devices located in the United States
• product:"GoAhead-Webs" — Specific software product
• default password — Devices using default credentials (yikes!)

⚠️ Ethical Considerations

Shodan is legal, but how you use it matters:

• ✅ Good: Security audits, research, education
• ❌ Bad: Unauthorized access, exploitation

Always have permission before probing or interacting with devices you find.

🔐 Shodan vs Google