GzGit in the Zone

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.

Related terminology

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