It involves sending packets to specific ports on a host and analyzing the responses to determine which ports are open, closed, or filtered. Port scanning can be performed using various tools and techniques, and it is commonly employed by network administrators to assess security and identify potential vulnerabilities. By understanding which ports are accessible, administrators can better secure their networks, while attackers may use port scanning to discover potential entry points for exploitation.
Port Scanning Example
For example, a network administrator may conduct a port scan on a company server to check for open ports associated with services that should not be publicly accessible, ensuring that only necessary ports are open to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.