What happens on the scanning phase of ethical hacking?

Ethical hacking, also known as white-hat hacking, is a legal and ethical method of identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities in an organization’s network. One of the critical phases of ethical hacking is the scanning phase, which involves identifying the network’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities. This article will explore in detail what happens during the scanning phase of, including the tools and techniques used.

Understanding the Scanning Phase of Ethical Hacking:

The scanning phase is the second step in the ethical hacking process, after reconnaissance. In this phase, the ethical hacker uses various tools and techniques to identify the network’s vulnerabilities and weaknesses. The scanning phase is a crucial step as it provides valuable information to the ethical hacker, which is used in the later phases of ethical hacking.

Types of Scanning in Ethical Hacking:

There are two types of scanning that can be done during the scanning phase :

1. Port Scanning: Port scanning involves scanning the network’s ports to identify open ports and services running on them. This information is used to identify potential vulnerabilities in the network.
2. Vulnerability Scanning: Vulnerability scanning involves scanning the network for known vulnerabilities, such as outdated software, missing patches, and weak passwords. This information is used to identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers.

Techniques Used in Scanning Phase of Ethical Hacking:

There are several techniques used in the scanning phase, including:

1. Ping Sweep: Ping sweep is a technique used to identify live hosts on the network. This technique involves sending an ICMP echo request to all the hosts on the network and waiting for a response. If a response is received, the host is considered to be live.
2. TCP Connect Scan: TCP connect scan is a technique used to identify open ports on a host. This technique involves connecting to each port on the host and waiting for a response. If a response is received, the port is considered to be open.
3. Banner Grabbing: Banner grabbing is a technique used to identify the operating system and services running on a host. This technique involves connecting to a port on the host and requesting the banner or header information from the service.

Tools Used in Scanning Phase of Ethical Hacking:

There are various tools used in the scanning phase, including:

1. Nmap: Nmap is a popular port scanning tool used to identify open ports and services running on a host.
2. Nessus: Nessus is a vulnerability scanning tool used to identify known vulnerabilities in a network.
3. OpenVAS: OpenVAS is an open-source vulnerability scanning tool used to identify known vulnerabilities in a network.

Common Vulnerabilities Found During Scanning:

During the scanning phase of ethical hacking, common vulnerabilities found include:

1. Open ports and services that can be exploited by attackers
2. Outdated software and missing patches
3. Weak passwords and authentication mechanisms
4. Misconfigured network devices

Recommended: First stage of ethical hacking

FAQs

Conclusion

The scanning phase of ethical hacking is a critical step in identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses in an organization’s network. It involves using various tools and techniques to identify the network’s vulnerabilities, including open ports, outdated software, weak passwords, and misconfigured devices. By identifying these vulnerabilities, ethical hackers can help strengthen the network’s security and protect it from potential attackers. It is essential to perform regular scanning to ensure the network’s security is up to date and secure from any potential threats.