While intitle:"live view" axis works in Google, specialized search engines like Shodan are more efficient at finding IoT devices. However, Google indexes millions of pages daily, and its massive reach means that even deeply buried camera streams can surface.
To be clear, this search does not hack anything. It simply finds devices that were never password-protected in the first place. Common examples include:
Axis releases frequent security patches. Log into your camera or use Axis Device Manager to check for: intitle+live+view+axis
A major European city deployed 500+ Axis cameras for traffic monitoring. Due to a configuration error, the camera management interface was exposed. A journalist used intitle:"live view" axis and found 200+ live feeds showing driver faces, license plates, and control room monitors. The city was fined €1.2 million under GDPR.
Axis cameras support the VAPIX Application Programming Interface. To change the title shown in intitle, you can send a simple HTTP request: While intitle:"live view" axis works in Google, specialized
http://<camera-ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=update&root.CustomHTML.Title=Back+Entrance
After a reboot, the browser tab will read: "Back Entrance - Live View". To be clear, this search does not hack anything
Pro code for bulk changes (PowerShell):
$cameras = @("192.168.1.50", "192.168.1.51")
foreach ($ip in $cameras)
$url = "http://$ip/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=update&root.CustomHTML.Title=Floor-$ip"
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $url -Credential $cred
If you are a security professional or IT admin responsible for Axis cameras, follow this step-by-step guide to discover whether your devices are exposed.