🔎 Google Programmable Search for OSINT Investigations — A Practical Guide with Free PSE Lists
Boost your OSINT workflow with Google Programmable Search Engines
Google’s Programmable Search Engine (PSE), formerly known as the Custom Search Engine (CSE), is an underused but powerful tool for OSINT investigations. Google rebranded CSE to PSE around 2020–2021 to reflect its expanded purpose: enabling users to program and customize their own search environment.
For OSINT practitioners, a PSE offers a practical way to reduce noise, avoid personalization bias, and focus exclusively on trusted open sources. This supports consistent, defensible methodology — essential for investigations where accuracy, verification, and transparency matter.
What a Programmable Search Engine (PSE) Is
A PSE is your own curated version of Google. Instead of searching the entire internet, it searches only the specific websites, domains, or pages you choose. Google handles indexing behind the scenes, while you determine the scope.
A PSE can be kept private, shared within a team, or embedded into internal dashboards or training tools. Because it filters out irrelevant content, it delivers a high-signal search environment ideal for OSINT workflows that demand precision.
Who Can Create One
Anyone with a Google account can build a PSE. No coding or advanced technical knowledge is required, making it accessible to:
OSINT and SOCMINT investigators
Analysts and researchers
Journalists and fact-checkers
Educators and training teams
Businesses conducting open-source due diligence
PSEs are especially helpful for teams seeking consistent, repeatable research standards across open-source investigations.
Key Benefits for OSINT Investigations
1. Higher Precision
A PSE searches only the sources you trust, helping you avoid low-quality, SEO-driven, or irrelevant results. This is crucial when building timelines, validating identities, or analyzing open-source claims.
2. Reduced Search Bias
Standard Google results are influenced by location, search history, and browsing behaviour. A PSE reduces this personalization, giving OSINT investigators more consistent, defensible search results across devices and users.
3. Faster, More Efficient Searches
A PSE eliminates the need to manually search site-by-site — a major advantage when working within limited investigative hours or managing high-volume lead verification.
4. Clear, Documented Methodology
Because each PSE has a defined source list, it supports repeatable searches and transparent documentation — essential for defensible, court-ready OSINT work.
5. Training and Standardization
PSEs help instructors and team leads reinforce structured search habits, support consistent tradecraft, and reduce variability in OSINT research.
Practical OSINT Use Cases
PSEs can be tailored for nearly any OSINT investigation type. Examples include:
Online identity verification: usernames, aliases, profiles
Background checks: corporate registries, licensing bodies, reputational history
Open-source due diligence: government databases, filings, compliance sources
Digital footprint mapping: mentions across news, forums, public social platforms
Verification and fact-checking: metadata tools, debunking sites, archival sources
Specialized OSINT domains: aviation, maritime, cryptocurrency, technical communities
Cyber-OSINT: threat-intelligence blogs, exploits databases, breach-related sources
Many investigators maintain multiple PSEs targeted to different case types.
How to Use a PSE Effectively
Search Operators
Most standard Google operators function inside a PSE, including:
“exact phrase”
-term
OR
site:
filetype:
intitle: / inurl:
AROUND(n)
Wildcards (*)
Deprecated operators (e.g., link:) remain deprecated.
Why Operators Work Even Better in a PSE
Because a PSE searches only from your chosen, high-signal sources, operators return cleaner, more relevant results.
Examples:
“Jane Doe” intitle:resume → searches credible directory sites
Company name filetype:pdf → surfaces filings, not SEO pages
scam OR fraud “ABC Services” → stays within reputable reporting sources
Layering and Filtering
A reliable OSINT workflow with a PSE includes:
Starting broad
Adding Boolean logic
Applying operators
Using labels (News, Corporate, Government)
Comparing results against standard Google
This reveals indexing gaps, outdated content, or sudden platform changes.
Common OSINT Patterns
“Name” + city + filetype:pdf (public records, filings)
Username + “site:” patterns for footprint checks
Company name intitle:filing
Email address inurl:profile
Keyword OR keyword for risk scans
Free Lists of Publicly Shared PSEs
Below are three widely referenced directories containing free, publicly shared PSEs. These are useful starting points for building or customizing your own engines.
TII has not tested or validated each PSE in these lists. Use due diligence before relying on any third-party PSE in active investigations.
1. OSINT-CSE by Pavel Bannikov (GitHub)
https://github.com/paulpogoda/OSINT-CSE
A widely shared, community-built library of OSINT-focused PSEs. Includes engines for social media discovery, people-search, sanctions lists, document leaks, public records, and various investigative sources. Some engines are regional or non-English; confirm relevance before use.
2. The-Osint-Toolbox – Custom Search Engines (GitHub)
https://github.com/The-Osint-Toolbox/Custom-Search-Engines
A strong OSINT-specific collection offering PSEs for social platforms (Telegram, Reddit, Mastodon, TikTok), image search, domain and hosting research, paste/leak sites, developer code repositories, and more. Coverage varies by engine; always review the source list and test results before operational use.
3. Boolean Strings – “40 Custom Search Engines”
https://booleanstrings.com/all-the-40-forty-custom-search-engines/
A curated set of 40 PSEs popular among researchers and sourcers. Covers resumes, technical profiles, professional networks, document repositories, and analytics tools. Although sourcing-oriented, many engines are useful for employment verification, background research, and OSINT profiling.
4. FreeSourcingTools – Google CSE Directory
https://www.freesourcingtools.com/google-cse
A user-friendly directory featuring many ready-made PSEs for public data, social platforms, and file search. Indexing consistency varies, and some engines return fewer results than standard Google searches, so testing is recommended.
Limitations
While powerful, PSEs have practical boundaries:
Dependent on Google’s indexing
Cannot access private, login-restricted, or paywalled content
Obey robots.txt
May not reflect real-time updates
High-volume API use may require billing
A PSE should complement — not replace — direct platform-level OSINT research.
Best Practices
To keep your PSEs accurate and useful:
Update your source lists regularly
Maintain separate PSEs for different case types
Confirm that included websites remain active and relevant
Monitor for indexing drift
Document PSE use in your case notes
Use PSEs in training to support consistent search methodology
Conclusion
Google Programmable Search Engines offer OSINT investigators a practical, efficient way to focus searches on trusted open-source content. They reduce noise, strengthen defensibility, and save time — while supporting structured, repeatable tradecraft.
For OSINT professionals, a PSE is more than a convenience. It’s a reliable tool that improves precision, accuracy, and workflow quality across a wide range of open-source investigations.