Port Scanner
Scan for open ports on any server or IP address. This tool helps identify running services, potential security vulnerabilities, and check firewall configurations.
About Port Scanning
About Port Scanner
What does this tool do?
Our Port Scanner tool checks for open network ports on any server or IP address. It identifies which services are running and accessible, helping you understand the network profile of a target system and detect potential security vulnerabilities.
Why is this useful?
Port scanning is essential for network security assessment, system administration, and troubleshooting connectivity issues. It helps identify exposed services, verify firewall configurations, and discover potential attack vectors that need to be secured.
Who uses this tool?
- Security professionals - Conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments
- Network administrators - Verify firewall rules and monitor exposed services
- System administrators - Troubleshoot connectivity issues and verify service status
- Penetration testers - Discover attack vectors and assess security posture
- IT professionals - Monitor network infrastructure and ensure proper configuration
How to perform a port scan
- Enter the target IP address or domain name
- Select a port group (common, web, database, etc.) or define a custom range
- Choose scanning options like protocol (TCP/UDP) and scan mode
- Click "Scan Ports" to start the security assessment
- Review the results and analyze any open ports found
Example
Scanning google.com typically shows ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS) as open, which is expected for a web server. Unexpected open ports might indicate security misconfigurations or unnecessary services.
Understanding your results
- Open Ports
- Ports that are accessible and have services listening. These represent potential entry points into the system.
- Closed Ports
- Ports that are not accessible, either because no service is running or they're blocked by a firewall.
- Risk Level
- Our assessment of the security risk associated with each open port, based on the service type and common attack vectors.
- Service Information
- Details about what service typically runs on each port and potential security considerations.
Risk Levels Explained
- Low Risk (Green): Secure services like HTTPS (443) or SSH (22) with proper configuration
- Medium Risk (Yellow): Services that can be secure but require careful configuration like HTTP (80) or FTP (21)
- High Risk (Red): Services that are inherently insecure or commonly targeted like Telnet (23) or open databases
Common Security Concerns
- Database ports exposed: Ports 3306 (MySQL), 5432 (PostgreSQL) should not be accessible from the internet
- Remote access ports: RDP (3389) and VNC (5900) are high-value targets for attackers
- Unencrypted protocols: Telnet (23), FTP (21), and HTTP (80) transmit data in plaintext
- Default configurations: Services running on default ports with default credentials
Important notes
- Port scanning should only be performed on systems you own or have explicit permission to test
- Some firewalls may detect and block port scanning attempts
- Results show accessibility, not necessarily the actual service or its security status
- Stealth scanning techniques may be more accurate but are not implemented in this basic tool
Common use cases
Security Assessment
Identify exposed services and potential attack vectors to improve your security posture and reduce the attack surface.
Firewall Testing
Verify that firewall rules are working correctly and that only intended services are accessible from outside your network.
Service Monitoring
Check if critical services are running and accessible, helping with uptime monitoring and troubleshooting connectivity issues.
Compliance Verification
Ensure your systems comply with security standards by verifying that unnecessary services are not exposed.
Ethical considerations
Port scanning should be conducted responsibly and ethically. Only scan systems you own or have explicit written permission to test. Unauthorized port scanning may be illegal in some jurisdictions and could be considered a precursor to an attack.