Information Gathering and getting to know the target systems is the first process in ethical hacking. Reconnaissance is a set of processes and techniques used to covertly discover and collect information about a target system.
During reconnaissance, an ethical hacker attempts to gather as much information about a target system as possible, following the 7 steps are bellow :—
- Gather initial information
- Determine the network range
- Identify active machines
- Discover open ports and access points
- Fingerprint the operating system
- Uncover services on ports
- Map the Network
Reconnaissance takes place in two parts which are following:—
- Active Reconnaissance :—
In this process, you will directly interact with the computer system to gain information. This information can be relevant and accurate. But there is a risk of getting detected if you are planning active reconnaissance without permission. If you are detected, then system admin can take severe action against you and trail your subsequent activities. - Passive Reconnaissance :—
In this process, you will not be directly connected to a computer system. This process is used to gather essential information without ever interacting with the target system.
