Shodan.IO Enter Here?

Shodan.IO? I know it sounds like a Star Wars droid or a newfangled sushi roll, but it's actually a search engine - for hackers. Now, I know you are thinking:

"A search engine for hackers? That doesn't sound like it would help me protect my network."

Well, buckle up buttercup, because Shodan.IO is not your average engine de là search! This baby will help you identify vulnerable devices on your edge network. Think of it kind of like a metal detector, but instead of finding buried treasure, it finds security weaknesses that could be exploited by hackers - and probably already are.

With Shodan.IO, you can search for devices in your network or devices that have been hacked, are configured for default credentials, are using vulnerable code, and a myriad of other details. This is the same type of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) that criminals are actively using to learn your organization's weaknesses. So use it to identify security flaws in your own network. By searching for your own devices, you can see what information is publicly available and identify potential attack vectors.

The best part, other than the $49 one-time cost for a basic membership? It is fun! It's like a digital treasure hunt - pirates are optional. Maybe you'll stumble upon a security camera that's accessible from the internet or a misconfigured server that's leaking sensitive information? The possibilities are endless.

So, what are you waiting for? Put on your hacker hat (figuratively, mainly because we don't want you to end up in prison) and start exploring - who knows what you'll find, but you'll be one step closer to bolstering your cybersecurity defenses.

I know I promised to talk about password policies this time, but Shodan.IO came to mind today, so I wanted to share before I let it get away. I will get to the password policies shortly - which by the way, is not what you want your password length to be.