Until manufacturers make “secure by default” mandatory (e.g., requiring a password change on first boot and disabling anonymous streams), these search strings will remain potent weapons.
If you manage a network camera (Axis or other brands using the same CGI scripts), follow these steps immediately to avoid becoming an entry in a Google dork search. inurl axis-cgi mjpg video.cgi
: Unfortunately, these can also be used by bad actors to spy on private locations if the camera wasn't properly password-protected. A Note on Privacy & Ethics A Note on Privacy & Ethics The search
The search query inurl:axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi is a common "Google Dork" used to find publicly accessible Axis Communications network cameras [11, 19]. This specific URL path is part of the VAPIX API , which allows for direct Motion JPEG (MJPEG) video streaming via a standard web browser or integration into third-party software [5, 16]. The Role of MJPEG in Modern Surveillance inurl axis-cgi mjpg video.cgi