The %21%21BETTER%21%21 query is a clever trick to get more accurate results from Shodan. The %21 represents the hexadecimal code for the exclamation mark (!), which is a special character in Shodan's query syntax. By using this query, we're essentially searching for devices that have !!BETTER!! in their description or metadata.
Created by John Matherly in 2009, Shodan provides a near real-time snapshot of what any IP address or organization is exposing to the world. As of 2026, Shodan indexes over alone—just the ones that identify themselves with the word "camera" in their banner.
Peeking Through Open Windows: webcamXP 5 Still Haunting Shodan
WebcamXP 5 instances are frequently found on the following ports: (The most common default) Security Risks & Vulnerabilities