Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

In the context of unethical hacking, what is the primary goal of a reconnaissance attack?

1. To disrupt services

2. To gather information

3. To steal credentials

4. To manipulate data

The correct answer is: To gather information

In the realm of unethical hacking, the primary goal of a reconnaissance attack is to gather information. This phase, often referred to as "recon," involves collecting data about a target’s systems, networks, and potential vulnerabilities without actively engaging with them. By doing so, an attacker can better understand the target's structure and defenses, which facilitates planning for further attacks. This information might include IP addresses, open ports, network architecture, and even employee details. The more information an attacker gathers during reconnaissance, the higher the likelihood of successfully exploiting a vulnerability in subsequent stages of an attack. The other options, while related to malicious activities, represent different kinds of attack motives. Disruption of services focuses on rendering a system inoperative, which is typically associated with denial-of-service attacks. Stealing credentials specifically targets obtaining unauthorized access to accounts, while manipulating data involves altering information for malicious purposes. These actions generally occur after the initial reconnaissance phase, which is focused solely on information collection.