What does a TCP connect scan determine?

What does a TCP connect scan determine?

• A. Closed ports on a target machine
• B. Open ports by completing the three-way handshake
• C. Network bandwidth availability
• D. System vulnerability levels

Answer: (B)

A TCP connect scan is a method used in network security assessments to identify open ports on a target system. This scanning technique completes the three-way handshake process that is fundamental to establishing a TCP connection. When a TCP connect scan is performed, the process involves sending a SYN (synchronize) packet to the target port. If the port is open, the target responds with a SYN-ACK (synchronize-acknowledge) packet, indicating that it is accepting connections. The scanner then sends an RST (reset) packet to terminate the connection. If no response is received, or if an RST packet is returned, it indicates that the port is either closed or blocked. Given that open ports are crucial for services and applications to communicate over a network, this scanning method provides clear information on which ports are currently active and listening for incoming connections. Therefore, the correct answer highlights that a TCP connect scan determines open ports by successfully completing the three-way handshake process. The other options pertain to different aspects of network assessment. Identifying closed ports or determining system vulnerability levels involves different scanning techniques and analyses, while network bandwidth availability would require throughput testing rather than port scans. Each of these focuses on different network characteristics that are not specifically addressed by the

A TCP connect scan is a method used in network security assessments to identify open ports on a target system. This scanning technique completes the three-way handshake process that is fundamental to establishing a TCP connection.

When a TCP connect scan is performed, the process involves sending a SYN (synchronize) packet to the target port. If the port is open, the target responds with a SYN-ACK (synchronize-acknowledge) packet, indicating that it is accepting connections. The scanner then sends an RST (reset) packet to terminate the connection. If no response is received, or if an RST packet is returned, it indicates that the port is either closed or blocked.

Given that open ports are crucial for services and applications to communicate over a network, this scanning method provides clear information on which ports are currently active and listening for incoming connections. Therefore, the correct answer highlights that a TCP connect scan determines open ports by successfully completing the three-way handshake process.

The other options pertain to different aspects of network assessment. Identifying closed ports or determining system vulnerability levels involves different scanning techniques and analyses, while network bandwidth availability would require throughput testing rather than port scans. Each of these focuses on different network characteristics that are not specifically addressed by the