May 1, 2024
Updated May 11, 2025
20 minute read
Nmap, short for Network Mapper, is a free and open-source utility for network discovery and security auditing. It allows users to discover hosts and services on a computer network, creating a "map" of the network. Nmap sends specially crafted packets to the target host and then analyzes the responses. This powerful tool is widely used by network administrators for tasks like network inventory, managing service upgrade schedules, and monitoring host or service uptime. It's also a crucial instrument for cybersecurity professionals, including ethical hackers and penetration testers, to identify vulnerabilities and assess the security posture of systems and networks.
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Find a path to becoming a Nmap. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/topic/p25w8n/nma
Reading list
We've selected four books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Nmap.
This official guide from the Nmap project provides a comprehensive overview of Nmap, covering its features, usage, and best practices for network discovery and security auditing.
Covers the full range of Nmap features and techniques, focusing on real-world security and compliance scenarios.
This cookbook provides practical recipes for using Nmap to perform various network scanning tasks.
Covers the fundamentals of Nmap and its advanced features, including script writing, vulnerability scanning, and network forensics.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/p25w8n/nma