Is port scanning easy for the adversary?

• A. Not Sure
• B. Sometimes
• C. Yes
• D. No

Answer: (C)

Port scanning is a basic reconnaissance activity that maps which ports are open on a host and what services might be running. It’s easy for an adversary because automated tools can scan large address spaces quickly, and many devices have services listening on well-known ports, so open ports are often apparent from simple probes. Even when some traffic is filtered, many scans still yield useful information, and banners or fingerprinting can reveal software versions and potential vulnerabilities for targeted follow-up. Defensive measures exist, but the general reality is that this step is relatively low effort, making port scanning easy for attackers.