Google Hacks

There are a number of hacks for Google that allow users to modify, and in some cases enhance, the search engine's functionality. Some of the hacks are designed to improve a user's search experience. For example, by entering in a specific airline and a flight number, you can get information on the flight's arrival and departure times in Google's search results.Lifehacker: Top 10 Obscure Google Search Tricks

Many users may not know that there are several hacks that will allow them to quickly access certain types of information. If you enter "What time is it in Tokyo?" into the Google search box, for example, you will immediately get the exact local time there. Other searches can yield metric or currency conversions. If you are looking for photos of people named Ivy, as opposed to the actual plant, enter "&imgtype=face" to the end of your URL in Google Images.Lifehacker: Top 10 Obscure Google Search Tricks

Another tip: When searching for documents or PDFs, you can add "filetype:doc" or "filetype:pdf" to the search term in the box to return results including eBooks, court cases and more.

"Google hacking" may refer to using Google to search for, and possibly gain access to, unauthorized information about certain websites, including administrator passwords that could provide access to everything from a company's payroll to private phone numbers of company executives.The New York Times: How a Google Search Can Become a Security Threat (September 27, 2006) | Google