Dictionary · Hacking Techniques and Methodologies
Footprinting
Assessment phases · Beginner
Building a map of an organization's publicly visible names, addresses, and technologies. It is a form of early reconnaissance.
A footprint is the outline you can see from outside. Old test sites and forgotten name records often appear in it. Defenders review that outline on purpose.
Example: A footprint lists three public web hosts and the mail server named by the organization's name records.
Common misconception
- A footprint is not proof of a weakness. It is an inventory of what is visible.