What is a SYN stealth scan?

QuestionsQuestions8 SkillsProScan Ports with MasscanOct, 29 2025
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A SYN stealth scan, also known as a SYN scan, is a technique used to determine which ports on a target system are open without establishing a full TCP connection. Here's how it works:

How It Works:

  1. SYN Packet: The scanner sends a SYN (synchronize) packet to the target port, indicating a request to establish a connection.
  2. Response:
    • If the port is open, the target responds with a SYN-ACK (synchronize-acknowledge) packet.
    • If the port is closed, the target responds with a RST (reset) packet.
  3. RST Packet: Instead of completing the handshake by sending an ACK (acknowledge) packet, the scanner sends a RST packet to terminate the connection attempt.

Advantages:

  • Stealthy: Since the connection is not fully established, it is less likely to be logged by intrusion detection systems.
  • Speed: SYN scans can be faster than other scanning methods because they do not complete the TCP handshake.

Use Cases:

  • Commonly used in network security assessments to identify open ports and potential vulnerabilities.

If you have further questions or need more details, feel free to ask!

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