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Censys

Internet-wide scanning and enumeration platform for security research.

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About

Censys operates as a leading internet-wide scanning and enumeration platform that provides comprehensive visibility into internet-connected devices and services. The platform continuously scans the entire IPv4 address space and collects detailed information about hosts, websites, and certificates across the internet. Security researchers, penetration testers, and cybersecurity professionals rely on Censys for asset discovery and reconnaissance activities.

The platform offers multiple scanning engines that gather data on various protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, FTP, and many others. Censys Search enables users to query this massive dataset using sophisticated search syntax to identify specific devices, services, or vulnerabilities. The platform maintains historical data, allowing security teams to track changes in internet infrastructure over time.

What distinguishes Censys from other scanning platforms is its scale and data quality. The service processes petabytes of scan data and maintains one of the most comprehensive databases of internet-connected assets available. Advanced filtering capabilities allow users to search by geographic location, autonomous system numbers, certificate details, and specific service configurations.

Security researchers use Censys for vulnerability research, threat hunting, and identifying exposed services across global infrastructure. Penetration testing teams leverage the platform for reconnaissance and attack surface mapping during security assessments. Threat intelligence analysts utilize the historical data to track threat actor infrastructure and identify malicious campaigns.

The platform integrates with popular security tools and frameworks, supporting both web-based interfaces and programmatic API access. Censys ASM (Attack Surface Management) provides continuous monitoring capabilities for organizations seeking to maintain visibility of their external-facing assets. This functionality helps security teams identify shadow IT, misconfigured services, and potential security exposures.

Censys serves academic researchers, cybersecurity vendors, government agencies, and enterprise security teams worldwide. The platform supports both commercial and academic use cases, with specialized pricing tiers for educational institutions and researchers. Its comprehensive internet scanning capabilities make it an essential tool for organizations requiring deep visibility into global internet infrastructure and emerging threats.