Active Reconnaissance | Tryhackme Walkthrough

Learn how to use simple tools such as traceroute, ping, telnet, and a web browser to gather information.

Introduction

In the first room of the Network Security Module, we focused on passive reconnaissance. In this second room, we focus on active reconnaissance and the essential tools related to it. We learn to use a web browser to collect more information about our target. Moreover, we discuss using simple tools such as ping, traceroute, telnet, and nc to gather information about the network, system, and services.

As we learned in the previous room, passive reconnaissance lets you gather information about your target without any kind of direct engagement or connection. You are watching from afar or checking publicly available information.

Active reconnaissance requires you to make some kind of contact with your target. This contact can be a phone call or a visit to the target company under some pretence to gather more information, usually as part of social engineering. Alternatively, it can be a direct connection to the target system, whether visiting their website or checking if their firewall has an SSH port open. Think of it like you are closely inspecting windows and door locks. Hence, it is essential to remember not to engage in active reconnaissance work before getting signed legal…