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Lesson 3: Host Discovery Techniques

Learn to find live hosts on networks using various scanning methods

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What is Host Discovery?

Host discovery is the process of finding active (live) hosts on a network. It's the first step in network reconnaissance and scanning.

Why Host Discovery Matters

Benefits:
  • • Efficiency: Only scan active hosts
  • • Speed: Reduces scan time significantly
  • • Stealth: Less network noise
  • • Focus: Target specific live systems
  • • Resource: Conserves bandwidth
Use Cases:
  • • Network inventory and mapping
  • • Security assessments
  • • Troubleshooting connectivity
  • • Asset management
  • • Penetration testing
Default NMAP behavior
nmap 192.168.1.0/24
By default, NMAP performs host discovery before port scanning
This command will first discover live hosts, then scan the top 1000 ports on each