Google for all intent and purposes has done a tremendous job in indexing the human experience - music, videos,webpages,documents that make up our life but for individuals interested in searching for all things connected to the internet - routers, refrigerators, webcams and all sorts, Google search falls short.

That's where SHODAN comes into the picture, providing users with access into the internet alleyways and back-roads.

Shodan uses a network of 24 computers nested in service providers across the world, it reaches out and methodically probes machines across the globe asking them the simplest of questions: What can you tell me about yourself? And you’d be surprised what it has found.

Developed by John Matherly almost three years ago has a pet project, Shodan has become a sensation among professionals in the security world. With the right search terms, a Shodan search can be like randomly opening a window to a mysterious world. But this can lead to some awkward moments, too.

Shodan’s probes cycle through internet protocol addresses. Sometimes, it finds webcams or databases, sometimes control panels for large caterpillar tractors, or even medical devices. Some of the things you find clearly aren’t supposed to be made public. And many folks who have devices connected to the internet are paradoxically uncomfortable with the idea that anyone out there might be able to have a peek.

Penetration testers, security professionals, academic researchers and law enforcement agencies are the primary users of Shodan. Matherly also admitted that cybercriminals can use this for negative purposes but most typically have access to botnets, which are large collections of infected computers that are able to achieve the same task without detection.

Shodan has been used to find a car wash that could be turned on and off, an hockey rink in Denmark that could be defrosted with a click of a button. A city's entire traffic control system was connected to the Internet and could be put into "test mode" with a single command entry, a control system for a hydroelectric plant in France with two turbines generating 3 megawatts each.

The Security professionals hope to avoid these scenarios by spotting these unsecured, connected devices and services using Shodan, and alerting those operating them that they're vulnerable. This makes one wonder how counter-productive this search tool might become with the ever increase in products that connect to the internet e.g Google Glass, the iWatch and in the not too distant future perhaps affordable totally automated home control systems.