PortScanning101

What Are Ports?

Ports are virtual endpoints on a device used for network communication. When data is sent or received over a network (like the internet), it's directed to a specific port number on a device's IP address. Each port is tied to a particular service or application.

• Ports range: 0 to 65535

  • 0-1023: Well-known ports (e.g., 80 for HTTP, 443 for HTTPS)

  • 1024-49151: Registered ports

  • 49152-65535: Dynamic/private ports

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What Is Port Scanning?

Port scanning is the process of checking which ports on a device (usually a server or computer) are open (i.e., accepting connections). It's used for:

• Network troubleshooting

• Security assessments

• Service discovery

🛑 Important: Only scan devices/networks you own or have permission to scan. Unauthorized scanning can be illegal.