Question

In nmap the command "nmap -T4 -sS " switch is used to perform what function on behalf of the scanning party?

a. To specify that the TCP protocol is to be used for the scan
b. To define a specific number of targets to be scanned
c. To define the speed or timing of the scan
d. To specify the number of ports to scan simultaneously

Answer 1

The 'nmap -T4 -sS' command uses the -T4 switch for aggressive scan timing and speed, while the -sS switch indicates a TCP SYN scan, which is swift and discreet.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Nmap command nmap -T4 -sS is utilized for network scanning and security auditing. In this command, the -T4 switch is used to specify the timing template (aggressive timing), which essentially defines the speed or timing of the scan. The aim is to balance between scan speed and stealth/reliability. Higher speeds can lead to missed hosts or open ports as well as greater chance of detection by intrusion detection systems.

On the other hand, the -sS flag indicates that a SYN scan is to be performed, which is a type of TCP scan that is often used because it is fast and stealthy since it does not complete the TCP handshake, simply sending a SYN packet and listening for the response without completing the connection.