Network reconnaissance:
- To understand the environment of the target network.
- Gather information about the target so as to plan the attack approach.
- Fingerprint the environment using right techniques & tools for the subsequent attack phases.
Full Answer
What is reconnaissance in information security?
This is how reconnaissance in information security is used to conduct penetration testing. An attacker can use recon to gain information without actually engaging with the network. It can provide information that allows access to networks outside the internet. Recon is short for “research” and is vulnerable to attack.
How do we study reconnaissance behaviour over networks?
We study reconnaissance behaviour over networks and classify it in terms of service layers and the type of information sought. We also discuss some of the challenges in detecting such behaviour and how intruders do their utmost to evade detection. Finally, we delve into various techniques used to respond to reconnaissance activity.
What is a recon and how does it work?
A recon can access no information system, but still cause data breaches, collecting sensitive data and exploiting networks. There are two types of reconnaissance: active reconnaissance and passive. Let’s look at the differences between passive reconnaissance and active reconnaissance.
What is active network reconnaissance?
Active reconnaissance can provide a hacker with much more detailed information about the target but also runs the risk of detection. 1. Nmap Nmap is probably the most well-known tool for active network reconnaissance.
What is a reconnaissance network?
Network reconnaissance is a term for testing for potential vulnerabilities in a computer network. This may be a legitimate activity by the network owner/operator, seeking to protect it or to enforce its acceptable use policy. It also may be a precursor to external attacks on the network.
What is network reconnaissance tools?
Tools for active reconnaissance are designed to interact directly with machines on the target network in order to collect data that may not be available by other means. Active reconnaissance can provide a hacker with much more detailed information about the target but also runs the risk of detection.
What is an example of reconnaissance?
Some common examples of reconnaissance attacks include packet sniffing, ping sweeps, port scanning, phishing, social engineering, and internet information queries. It is worth noting that these attacks can be preventable as well. These can be examined further by breaking them into two categories: Logical, and Physical.
Why is network reconnaissance important?
By using a recon, an attacker can directly interact with potential open ports, services running etc. or attempt to gain information without actively engaging with the network. It can provide all the critical information, which helps gain access to the networks beyond the internet.
What is network reconnaissance in cyber security?
In the context of cybersecurity, reconnaissance is the practice of covertly discovering and collecting information about a system. This method is often used in ethical hacking or penetration testing.
What are the 3 types of reconnaissance?
Scout platoons perform three types of reconnaissance: route, zone, and area.
What are the 5 types of reconnaissance?
Army Doctrinal Reference Publication (ADRP) 3-90 identifies the five forms of reconnaissance as route, area, zone, reconnaissance- in-force and special.
What are 3 types of reconnaissance attacks?
Types of reconnaissance attacks. There are three types of reconnaissance attacks. These are social, public, and software.
In this excerpt of 'How Cybersecurity Really Works,' author Sam Grubb breaks down common network reconnaissance techniques used by adversaries to attack wired networks
Most cybersecurity programs cover myriad academic topics, such as emerging technologies and niche architectures. But when it comes to real-world infosec knowledge, the curricula can come up short.
Attacking Your Network
Black hats use a variety of techniques to attack your network, depending on their goals. Network attacks often focus on gaining access to the network to see traffic or steal data. This means they must connect into the network between the packets your system sends and the destination of those packets so they can see the data being sent.
Reconnaissance
In traditional warfare, an enemy would attempt to gather as much information as possible before launching an attack. She would strive to know about the resources available, their weaknesses and vulnerabilities and, where it would hurt the most.
Detection challenges
Detecting and preventing probes is important both to prevent intrusions and inhibit exposure of information about resources on the network. While a variety of techniques exist for this purpose, efficient detection of such activity is not always straightforward.
Responding to probes
Most active probes make use of techniques that use the core protocols of the modern day communications, namely IP, ICMP, TCP and UDP.
Acknowledgment
This effort is a result of a collaborative project between Cranfield University and the University of York funded by the EPSRC (EP/E028268/1) to study system level approaches to intrusion detection.
Differences Between Passive and Active Reconnaissance
There are two main types of reconnaissance: active and passive reconnaissance.
How To Prevent Reconnaissance
Organizations can use penetration testing to determine what their network would reveal in the event of a reconnaissance attack. During testing, organizations can deploy port scanning tools (which scan large networks and determine which hosts are up) and vulnerability scanners (which find known vulnerabilities in the network).
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Top passive recon tools
In passive reconnaissance, the hacker never interacts directly with the target’s network. The tools used for passive reconnaissance take advantage of unintentional data leaks from an organization to provide the hacker with insight into the internals of the organization’s network.
Top active recon tools
Tools for active reconnaissance are designed to interact directly with machines on the target network in order to collect data that may not be available by other means. Active reconnaissance can provide a hacker with much more detailed information about the target but also runs the risk of detection.
Conclusion: Performing network reconnaissance
Network reconnaissance is a crucial part of any hacking operation. Any information that a hacker can learn about the target environment can help in identification of potential attack vectors and targeting exploits to potential vulnerabilities.
Passive and Active Reconnaissance
Any attempt to gather information about a computer or a network is considered reconnaissance. The big difference between passive and active reconnaissance is whether or not the attacker directly engages with the system they’re planning to attack.
Common Active Reconnaissance Techniques
During the active reconnaissance phase of a cyber-attack, the intruder is looking for and testing potential vulnerabilities that will allow them to actually break into the system. The simplest technique for gaining access is to use a tool to identify vulnerable server ports within the network.
How to Detect Active Reconnaissance
Detecting active reconnaissance is much easier than detecting passive reconnaissance. Network owners at a minimum should always have active firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) that are as up to date as possible. These two alone will both prevent common active reconnaissance attacks and alert the system when an attack is occurring.
How to Protect Against Active Reconnaissance
To reiterate, the simplest ways to protect against active reconnaissance are to implement strong security measures like well-configured firewalls and to keep those measures up to date.
Performing Stress Tests
Once a network is secure, the owner of the network performs their own stress test of the system, conducting their own active reconnaissance on their network themself. They can use tools like Nmap and Unicornscan on their network and ensure the information that is exposed does not make them vulnerable to an attack.
