Censys Search empowers users with the most comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date map of the Internet for proactive and reactive security analysis at scale. Follow the steps below to get started.

For information on using Censys Search via the API, please see the Censys Search API Quick Start.

How to get started with Censys Search

Step 1: Go to search.censys.io

From here, you can start using the product right away!

While it is possible to use Censys Search without an account, we recommend creating a free account. Learn more about Censys Search subscription options here.

Step 2: Start searching with example queries

To get started quickly, try the example queries available in the Censys documentation:

• Example host queries
• Example certificate queries

Optional: Configure your search

In the search bar, click the gear icon to configure your sort order, number of results per page, and virtual hosts.

Step 3: Refine your queries

Using the examples as a starting point, refine your queries with values relevant to your investigations.

You can also use the click-to-search button in the table view of any certificate or host record to launch a search for something that interests you.

Use AI to refine queries

CensysGPT (Beta) simplifies building queries and empowers efficient and effective reconnaissance operations. Use it to quickly and easily gain insights into hosts on the internet, which streamlines the process and allows for more proactive threat hunting and attack surface management. 

Understanding search results

Review host search results

The search results show a list of hosts and virtual hosts matching your query, including the IPv4 or IPv6 address, autonomous system (AS) and geolocation, number of services matching the query, port number or service name, and other services on the host.

Review certificate search results

The search results show a list of certificate records matching the query, including the distinguished name (DN) of the certificate's subject, the DN of the certificate's issuer, the validity start and end dates, and names from all sections of the certificate.

Generate reports

After conducting a search in Censys, you can generate a report on the breakdown of a value present on the Hosts returned by your query. To create a report, click the Report tab in the upper right side of the results page.

Additional resources

To make the most out of your searches, we recommend reviewing the following resources:

• Censys Query Language Syntax
  • This documentation introduces query writing syntax and examples.
• Cooking up Queries: Your Guide to Savory Internet Searches
  • In this ebook, find queries for discovering critical infrastructure, rapid responses to zero days, finding hacked web servers, uncovering ransomware, and more.
• Censys Search API Quickstart Guide
  • The Censys Search API allows you to integrate Censys data into your applications, scripts, or security tools.
• Censys Search Release Notes
  • Follow the release notes to stay up to date on the latest product changes and enhancements.