The Search Bar
The search bar is a free-text area, and includes Search Tools and Filter menus to help you make targeted queries.
Using the Search Bar
The search bar works like most search engines; it accepts letters, numbers, special characters, and operators. The Search Bar/Q Field Syntax Guide subcategory includes more details and options for searches, but here are a few quick start tips:
- Use Boolean operators (AND OR NOT) when searching for more than one keyword.
- Use quotations ("Jane Doe") to send the query as one phrase, Jane Doe.
- Use the exact: search operator (exact:fullz) to prevent word stemming, and search for exact matches of that term.
Search Tools Menu
The left drop-down menu opens Search Tools, which include:
- Entity Search: the best way to search for Emails, Credit Cards, Cryptocurrencies, CVEs, IP Addresses, Website Mentions, Social Security Numbers, Users, or Vendors in our system. You can also create Search Blocks from these builders.
- Query Builder: a helper for search variations or advanced formatting for commonly search items.
- Search Blocks: pre-populated keyword as well as any custom search blocks that you create, are accessible from this menu for easy access.
- Templates: pre-populated search templates to help you get started quickly.
- Once you’ve started searching, your Recent Searches and Saved Searches lists will also appear in this menu.
- Specialized Research sections, such as Research: Markets, will also have section-specific search tools uniquely designed for that research area.
Filters
- Click on the right Lexicon icon to open the Lexicon and filter to (or exclude) darknet sites of interest. More information is provided in these articles: How to Use the Lexicon and Groups You Will Find in the Lexicon.
- Click on the right Filter menu to refine your search, create targeted queries, and select options. More information about these is provided in this section: Filters, Dates, Advanced Search Options
Using multiple different search components AND together; using multiple of the same search component (but different values) OR together:
Lexicon Market, Lexicon Forum in same search—OR
Lexicon Market, Lexicon Forum in same search—OR
Search Bar Free Text and Lexicon Paste in the same search—AND
Network (Tor), Network (Discord) in the same search—OR
Entity Search, Search Bar Free Text in the same search—AND
All see our article on Guidelines for using multiple search components (Filters, Lexicon entries, and free text) in the same search.