Footprinting and Port Scanning

Footprinting is a passive scan performed to gather basic public information about a target company and is useful in determining if you have too much visibility on the Internet. Port scanning is done to scan a network for open ports. This week's labs and reading focus on port scanning and footprinting.

Explain what you believe is the greatest source of information for hackers in the footprinting stage, including where this information is commonly found and how a hacker is able to obtain it. Compare and contrast footprinting and port scanning.

Determine which you believe is the more important step in the hacking process and explain why. Using the Internet or the Strayer Library, research at least two commonly used port scanning tools.

Provide a tutorial, website or video that provides a tutorial on how to use the tools. Share with your classmates, and include links to any useful resource you find.

After reading a few of your classmate's postings, reply to the ones from which you learned something new, or to which you have something to add.

Remember to get in early and post often.

Additional post option: What type of pertinent information can be found during a passive scan from social media sites such as LinkedIn or Facebook?