Did you know that a simple search like inurl:view index.shtml "hotel rooms" full could reveal internal hotel booking panels?
For years, this and similar search strings have been shared in online forums and security guides as a demonstration of how easily unsecured IoT (Internet of Things) devices can be discovered.
If you manage a network utilizing IP surveillance cameras—whether for a hospitality business, an office, or home security—take the following steps to ensure your feeds are not indexed by Google: 1. Implement Strong Authentication inurl view indexshtml hotel rooms full
Recording or distributing imagery from cameras exposed in private quarters often violates specific video voyeurism and surveillance statutes. How to Secure Network Cameras Against Google Dorking
If you are a traveler or a property owner, you can prevent your devices from becoming part of these public "index" lists by following these security steps: Did you know that a simple search like inurl:view index
: This 2025 paper provides a comprehensive overview of how "Script Kiddies" and professional attackers use simple search strings (like the one you mentioned) to find exposed IoT devices and critical infrastructure.
A highly technical and specific search query used by savvy travelers, , is designed to bypass standard booking engines (like Expedia or Booking.com) and look directly at a hotel’s internal server files, sometimes revealing different inventory than what is shown to public search engines. If you are concerned about your privacy while
If you are concerned about your privacy while staying at a hotel:
Hotels must ensure their robots.txt file is properly configured to disallow crawling of backend directories, and that server permissions are set correctly to avoid showing directory indexes. How to Properly Check Hotel Availability (Securely)
Add this to your website’s root robots.txt file: