What is Port Scanning?
A technique used to discover which network ports are open on a target system, often used in reconnaissance before an attack.
Port scanning probes a computer or network to find open ports and services. While legitimate for network administration, it's also the first step in many attacks.
How It Works
- Sends connection requests to a range of port numbers
- Open ports respond, revealing running services
- Different scan types (SYN, UDP, FIN) have different stealth levels
Privacy Concerns
- Reveals what services you're running (web server, SSH, email, etc.)
- Can identify your operating system through response patterns
- Exposed services increase your attack surface
Protection
- Use a firewall to close unnecessary ports
- Don't expose services to the public internet unless needed
- Use a VPN or NAT to hide your real IP
- Tools like fail2ban can detect and block scanning attempts
Related Terms
IP Address
A unique numerical identifier assigned to every device connected to a computer network. Your IP address reveals your approximate geographic location and can be used to track your online activity, link your actions across websites, and identify your internet service provider.
NAT (Network Address Translation)
A technique that maps multiple private IP addresses to a single public IP address, providing a basic layer of privacy by hiding internal network structure.
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