Network Scanning Concepts

Network scanning is a process used to identify active hosts, ports, and services on a network. It’s a crucial step in ethical hacking and penetration testing, as it helps to map out the target network and identify potential vulnerabilities.

Scanning Tools

Some popular network scanning tools include:

• Nmap: A powerful and versatile network scanner that can be used for host discovery, port scanning, OS detection, and more.
• Masscan: A high-speed port scanner that can scan the entire Internet in minutes.
• ZMap: Another high-speed network scanner that is often used for research purposes.

Scanning Techniques

There are many different network scanning techniques, including:

• Ping Sweep: Used to identify active hosts on a network.
• Port Scanning: Used to identify open ports and services on a host.
• OS Fingerprinting: Used to identify the operating system running on a host.
• Vulnerability Scanning: Used to identify known vulnerabilities in services running on a host.

Real-World Examples and Use Cases

Here are some real-world examples and use cases of network scanning:

• A penetration tester is hired to assess the security of a company’s network. They would use network scanning techniques to map out the network, identify potential vulnerabilities, and attempt to exploit them.
• A system administrator is troubleshooting a network connectivity issue. They might use ping to check if a host is reachable, or use a port scanner to see if a particular service is running.
• A security researcher is investigating a new type of malware. They might use network scanning to identify infected hosts and track the spread of the malware.
• A cybercriminal is planning an attack on a target network. They would use network scanning to gather information about the target and identify potential entry points.

Ethical Considerations

It’s important to note that network scanning can also be used for malicious purposes. Therefore, it’s important to only scan networks that you have permission to scan.

Additional Resources

• CEH v13 Module 3: Scanning Networks: https://www.eccouncil.org/
• Nmap Documentation: https://nmap.org/docs/
• Masscan Documentation: https://github.com/robertdavidgraham/masscan
• ZMap Documentation: https://zmap.io/