Network enumeration: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 16:33, 26 January 2025

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{{more citations needed|date=August 2022}}

{{short description|Computing activity}}

'''Network enumeration''' is a computing activity in which [[username]]s and info on groups, shares, and services of [[computer network|networked computers]] are retrieved. It should not be confused with [[network mapping]], which only retrieves information about which [[server (computing)|servers]] are connected to a specific network and what [[operating system]] runs on them.

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==Software==

A '''network enumerator''' or(also '''network scanner''') is a [[computer program]] used to retrieve usernames and info on groups, shares, and services of networked computers. This type of program scans networks for vulnerabilities in the security of that network. If there is a vulnerability with the security of the network, it will send a report back to a [[hacker (computer security)|hacker]] who may use this info to exploit that network glitch to gain entry to the network or for other malicious activities. Ethical hackers often also use the information to remove the glitches and strengthen their network.

Malicious (or "[[Black hat hacking|black-hat]]") hackers can, on entry of the network, get to security-sensitive information or corrupt the network making it useless. If this network belonged to a company which used this network on a regular basis, the company would lose the function to send information internally to other departments.