Automating Recon: The Tools and Techniques Used by Today’s Hackers

Introduction

Hackers are constantly looking for ways to automate their processes and increase their efficiency. One of the most common tasks they carry out is reconnaissance, or “recon”. Recon is an important part of the hacking process because it helps hackers to identify potential targets and gather information about them. By combining some of the best tools and techniques, hackers can automate their recon process, making it faster and more efficient. In this article, we’ll explore how hackers automate their recon process by combining some of the best tools and techniques.

What Is Recon?

Before we get into how hackers automate their recon process, it’s important to understand what recon is and why it’s important. Recon is the process of gathering information about a target before an attack. This information can include IP addresses, usernames, passwords, ports, services, vulnerabilities, and more. By gathering this information, hackers can identify potential targets and plan their attack accordingly.

Why Automate Recon?

Hackers automate their recon process for a few reasons. First, it saves them time. Automating the recon process means they don’t have to manually carry out each step and can instead focus on more important tasks. Second, it increases accuracy. Automating the recon process can reduce the chance of mistakes and increase the chances of a successful attack. Finally, it can save money. Automating the recon process can reduce the cost of an attack by eliminating the need for manual labor.

Tools and Techniques

Now that we’ve covered what recon is and why hackers automate the process, let’s discuss some of the tools and techniques they use.

Port Scanning: Port scanning is a technique used to identify open ports on a target system. By scanning a target system, hackers can identify services running on the system, which can give them an idea of what vulnerabilities may exist. Popular port scanning tools include Nmap, Zenmap, and Masscan.Vulnerability Scanning: Vulnerability scanning is a technique used to identify vulnerabilities on a target system. By scanning a target system, hackers can identify services running on the system and determine if any of them have known vulnerabilities. Popular vulnerability scanning tools include Nessus, OpenVAS, and Nmap.Password Cracking: Password cracking is a technique used to guess passwords on a target system. By brute-forcing passwords, hackers can gain access to a target system. Popular password cracking tools include John the Ripper, Hashcat, and Hydra.Website Reconnaissance: Website reconnaissance is a technique used to gather information about a target website. By analyzing a website, hackers can identify the technologies used, the structure of the site, and potential vulnerabilities. Popular website reconnaissance tools include Wappalyzer, Burp Suite, and Dirsearch.OSINT: OSINT stands for Open Source Intelligence. It is a technique used to gather information about a target from public sources. By using OSINT, hackers can identify potential targets and gather information about them. Popular OSINT tools include Maltego, TheHarvester, and Recon-ng.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hackers automate their recon process by combining some of the best tools and techniques. By using port scanning, vulnerability scanning, password cracking, website reconnaissance, and OSINT, hackers can identify potential targets and gather information about them. Automating the recon process can save time, increase accuracy, and save money.