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Scanning Networks

Find live hosts, open ports and the services behind them.

10 units~82 minBeginner levelDomain 2 of exam

About this module

Footprinting (Module 2) gathered facts quietly. Scanning is the next step: actively sending packets to confirm which hosts are live, which ports are open, and what software is running. It is the first step a defender can detect, so this module teaches both the scan techniques and how defenders catch them.

What you will learn

  • The six TCP flags and the 3-way handshake
  • How to find live hosts on a network
  • Port states and the main scan types
  • Service, version and OS discovery
  • Nmap and Hping3 basics
  • How defenders detect and block scans

Module roadmap

01Network Scanning BasicsLesson 1 · ~4 min
02TCP Flags & the 3-Way HandshakeLesson 2 · ~5 min
03Host DiscoveryLesson 3 · ~4 min
04Port Scanning & Scan TypesLesson 4 · ~5 min
05Service, Version & OS DiscoveryLesson 5 · ~5 min
06Scanning ToolsLesson 6 · ~4 min
07Detecting Scans & EvasionLesson 7 · ~4 min
08Scanning CountermeasuresLesson 8 · ~4 min
09Lab: Scan Your Own LabLab · ~40 min
10AssessmentAssessment · ~5 min

How to study: read a lesson → answer its 2 "Check yourself" questions → do the lab → pass the assessment with 80%+. Lessons 2, 3 and 4 are the most tested. You will scan the Metasploitable VM from the Module 1 lab.