What is reconnaissance in cyber security?

Reconnaissance in cyber security refers to the phase of intelligence gathering and information collection that hackers or malicious actors perform to gather intelligence about a target system or network before launching an attack. This phase is critical as it helps attackers identify vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and potential points of entry into a system or network.

There are two main categories of reconnaissance in cyber security:

1. Passive reconnaissance: This involves gathering information without directly interacting with the target system or network. This can include analyzing publicly available information, such as social media profiles, websites, and domain registration records, as well as examining network traffic and metadata to gain insights into the target's infrastructure.

2. Active reconnaissance: This involves actively interacting with the target system or network to gather more detailed information. This can include techniques such as scanning for open ports, conducting network scans, and probing for vulnerabilities in the system or network.

Reconnaissance is a crucial first step in the cyber attack process, as it provides attackers with the necessary information to plan and launch more sophisticated attacks, such as phishing, malware infiltration, or denial of service attacks. Organizations can defend against reconnaissance by implementing strong security measures, monitoring network activity, and conducting regular security assessments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.