Nmap: a “Hacker Tool” for Security Professionals

Nmap: a “Hacker Tool” for Security Professionals by Justin Hutchens The notion of the “ethical hacker” has always been an ironic one. The developing trends of ethical hacking and offensive security have transformed the information security industry into one of the most self-perpetuating industries in the world. The software and tools that are used to secure vulnerable information assets are the same tools that can be used to exploit them. Perhaps it’s the other way around. Perhaps the tools that were created for the sole purpose of exploiting information assets are now being used to safeguard them. I suppose this is a debate that could go on forever and is really just another instance of “what came first…the chicken or the egg?” The purpose of this essay is not to discuss the philosophical question of intent. My intentions are more modest. I merely seek to justify the importance of a....