I
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Incident Response
- Industrial IoT (IIoT)
- Industry 4.0
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
- Infrastructure Security
- Innovation Product Design
- Innovation Product Development
- Insider Threat Detection
- Integration Testing
- Intelligent Automation
- Intelligent Process Automation
- Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Internet of Things Platform
- Internet of Things Strategy
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
- IT/OT Convergence
Port Scanning
Simple Definition for Beginners:
Port scanning is a technique used to find open ports on a computer or network to identify potential vulnerabilities.
Common Use Example:
When a cybersecurity expert checks a network for open ports that hackers could exploit, they are performing port scanning.
Technical Definition for Professionals:
Port scanning involves systematically probing a server or network device to identify open ports and services, assess security vulnerabilities, and understand the communication protocols in use. Key aspects include:
- Types of Port Scans:
o TCP Connect Scan: Establishes a full TCP connection to the target port, identifying if the port is open.
o SYN Scan (Half-Open Scan): Sends a SYN packet to the target port and waits for a SYN-ACK response, without completing the TCP handshake. This is stealthier than a full TCP connect scan.
o UDP Scan: Sends UDP packets to target ports and waits for a response to determine if the port is open or closed. It is slower and less reliable due to the stateless nature of UDP.
o ACK Scan: Determines the firewall rules and whether the ports are filtered by sending ACK packets.
o FIN Scan: Sends a FIN packet to the target port. An open port typically ignores it, while a closed port responds with an RST packet.
- Purpose of Port Scanning:
o Security Assessment: Identify open ports and services to find potential entry points for attacks.
o Network Inventory: Map the network by identifying active devices and running services.
o Vulnerability Detection: Determine outdated software and unpatched vulnerabilities on open ports.
o Compliance Checks: Ensure that the network adheres to security policies by identifying unauthorized services.
- Common Tools for Port Scanning:
o Nmap: A popular open-source tool for network discovery and security auditing.
o Zenmap: The graphical user interface for Nmap.
o Masscan: Known for its ability to scan the entire Internet quickly.
o Netcat: A versatile networking tool used for port scanning and other network-related tasks.
Port Scanning
