Query Assistant

The Query Assistant in the Censys Platform is an AI tool that builds valid Censys Query Language (CenQL) queries using English natural language input. After the assistant translates your request into a query, you can review, edit, and run it.

The Query Assistant is a beta feature available to all Platform users. While the feature remains in beta, any content submitted through the assistant may be used to improve the model that powers it. When the feature becomes generally available, additional privacy controls and options will be added.

The assistant helps you get started with the Platform as well as guide you on how to execute complex queries without a deep familiarity with CenQL and Platform datasets.

The assistant adheres to the data access permissions defined by your tier. It can also output queries targeting data accessible only via paid modules like Threat Hunting.

📘

Note

When you enter natural language into the search bar and click Generate, no credits are consumed. Credits are consumed when you click Search.

Follow the steps below to use the Query Assistant.

1. Go to the search bar in the Censys Platform.
2. Enter a question or statement, such as How can I find hosts with port 22 open? or hosts running SSH on a nonstandard port.
   • You can also add natural language input to existing queries. For example, host.ip: "1.1.1.1" that are in China.
3. Click Generate.
4. The green check in the search bar means the query is valid and the data is available to your tier.
   You can edit the syntax in the search bar.

5. Click Search. Credits are consumed after you execute the search.

Tier restrictions

If the assistant generates a query that targets data that is unavailable to your account, you will not see the green validation check in the search bar. If you run a search that targets data that is unavailable to your account, you will not be able to see results for that query.

For example, if you enter how can i find services with malware in france while using a Free account, you will see:

Click Generate. The query is converted. If you click Search, it returns no results.

Data processing information

Censys uses OpenAI to process information input from the Query Assistant and output valid queries. Information that you input by clicking the Generate button and queries that are produced as a result of your input are shared with OpenAI. Censys has opted out of allowing that data to be used to improve OpenAI models.