What is Information gathering?

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Information gathering, also known as reconnaissance, is the first step in any cyber attack or security assessment. It involves collecting information about the target, such as its network infrastructure, systems, and users. This information can be used to identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited, or to gain a better understanding of the target's security posture.

There are two main types of information gathering:

1. Passive reconnaissance involves gathering information from publicly available sources, such as the target's website, social media accounts, and search engine results.
2. Active reconnaissance involves directly interacting with the target's network or systems, such as sending ping requests or performing port scans.

Some of the most common information gathering techniques include:

• Footprinting: Identifying the target's online presence, such as its domain names, IP addresses, and email addresses.
• Scanning: Probing the target's network or systems to identify open ports and services.
• Enumeration: Identifying the resources that are accessible on the target's network, such as user accounts, file shares, and databases.
• Social engineering: Tricking users into revealing sensitive information.
• Open-source intelligence (OSINT): Gathering information from publicly available sources, such as social media, news articles, and government websites.

Cybersecurity professionals use information gathering to identify and mitigate threats to their organizations. For example, a security analyst might use information gathering to identify vulnerabilities in the company's network that could be exploited by attackers. Or, a penetration tester might use information gathering to identify ways to break into the company's network and steal data.

Information gathering is an essential skill for any cybersecurity professional. It is also a skill that attackers use to plan and execute their attacks. By understanding the different information gathering techniques, organizations can better protect themselves from cyber attacks.