On Sat, May 18, 2002 at 07:17:43PM -0400, ralph@istop.com said: [snip]
network to gather information or run recon if they were not planning on attacking? I'm not saying that you're not right, I'm just saying that so far I have heard no valid non-attack reasons for portscans (other than those run by network admins against their own networks).
I often like to know if a particular web server is running Unix or Winblows. A port scanner is a useful tool in making that determination.
a full-blown portscan is not required here. A simple telnet to port 80 will do the job.
<sarcasm> And why, pray tell, would some stranger be carrying a concealed gun if they were not planning on shooting someone? </sarcasm>
Show me how to defend myself from attack by portscanning the networks of random strangers, and I will concede the point. :) -- Scott Francis darkuncle@ [home:] d a r k u n c l e . n e t Systems/Network Manager sfrancis@ [work:] t o n o s . c o m GPG public key 0xCB33CCA7 illum oportet crescere me autem minui