Reconnaissance Definition:
Reconnaissance is the initial phase of a cyber attack, during which an attacker gathers information about a target system, network, or organisation. This phase helps attackers understand the target’s vulnerabilities, potential entry points, and overall security posture, enabling them to plan and execute more effective attacks.
What is Reconnaissance?
Reconnaissance involves the collection of data on a target without interacting directly in a noticeable or intrusive way. This information can be collected through publicly available sources (passive Reconnaissance) or by engaging directly with the target's network (active Reconnaissance). Reconnaissance is often used by attackers, but ethical hackers and security professionals also perform Reconnaissance as part of Penetration Testing and Vulnerability assessments.
Why is Reconnaissance important?
The purpose of Reconnaissance is to identify potential weaknesses in a target’s defences. By gathering detailed information, attackers can tailor their strategies and select the most effective attack vectors. Security professionals conduct Reconnaissance to understand their own systems' exposure and improve security measures.
How does Reconnaissance work?
Reconnaissance can be conducted passively by collecting information from public sources like DNS records, social media, websites, and databases, without engaging directly with the target. Active Reconnaissance involves direct interaction, such as scanning the target’s network for open ports, enumerating services, and probing for vulnerabilities. Tools like Nmap, Shodan, and WHOIS lookups are commonly used for Reconnaissance activities.
Reconnaissance Examples:
Examples of Reconnaissance include using WHOIS databases to gather domain information, conducting port scans to identify open services, or searching social media profiles for employee details that might be useful in a Social Engineering attack. Other common techniques include web scraping, DNS enumeration, and email harvesting.
Reconnaissance Issues:
While Reconnaissance is essential for security assessments, it can lead to potential misuse if conducted by malicious actors. Organisations can mitigate the risk of Reconnaissance-based attacks by reducing their digital footprint, implementing Intrusion Detection Systems, and regularly monitoring network activity for signs of unauthorised probing or scanning.
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