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Leader: Google - don't change for hackers
Or you'll ruin search for everyone...

By silicon.com

Published: Friday 30 July 2004

A security researcher has outed Google as a handy tool for hackers.

According to Computer Security Corp's Johnny Long, hackers can use Google's search to locate thousands of websites and servers with weak security - perfect targets for attacks.

The practice is nothing new but Google's advanced search and website caching features make it particularly good at the task - not all search engines reveal so many vulnerabilities.

Some might say this is something to worry about - and even that Google should alter its search so that hackers can no longer use it for malicious purposes.

After all, without Google, locating susceptible targets could be a chore for hackers that would slow down their ability to do damage.

But Google 'dumbing down' its search solely to prevent hackers from using it would be wrong.

It is exactly those advanced options that make Google such a great tool for everyone else.

Yes, Google's used by hackers for nefarious purposes. But it's also used by journalists, researchers, businesspeople, shoppers and millions of others for legitimate purposes. To make the legitimate users suffer because a few bad apples are using the advanced search for malice is unfair.

It's also poor business sense - Google's thorough searching capabilities are what make it such a popular site in the first place. To diminish its search would be to diminish its competitive advantage.

Google has so far stayed mum on the matter, as it's in a government-imposed quiet period leading up to its IPO. Thus we've heard nothing from the company to indicate it would alter its search to foil hackers. Let's hope it stays that way.

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