Network Mapping

The Network Mapper tool was designed by Gordon Lyon and helps penetration testers like us identify flaws within a network. It not only reveals information on the network itself but can also provide information like open ports or service information that can then help security analysts identify where they would need to implement enhanced security measures.

The command format or style on nmap looks like the following: nmap [IP Address] [ports] [switches]. An example could be nmap 111.111.111 -p- -sV, which would reveal the service information for the ports specified. Of course, the more you use this tool, the more methods you learn for using different commands to perform different tasks.

Overall, this tool provides insight into a network and its devices, which is used to strengthen a system. It’s primarily used within the reconnaissance and scanning phases, which help pentesters understand what entry points there could be into a network and system.