What Is Footprinting?

Footprinting is finding out about computer systems and their networks or footprints. It's a term that's used both in information technology and in hacking circles. It's not always bad—you're Footprinting when you look up your IP address. Hackers can also use it to find information about a target system and plan an attack. Knowing that a footprint is a trail of digital information left behind by a user or device is essential. In the case of hacking, hackers are looking for ways to access sensitive information or resources without authorization, so when they're "footprinting," they're typically looking for ways into your system. so that they can gain access illegally. Footprinting is a vital first step in the hacking process. It helps the hacker collect information about the system they want to penetrate and allows the hacker to hide their identity and location. Hackers often use public websites to gather general information about an organization or design. They will also use public records, like business listings, to collect information about an individual or company. They might even browse social media sites to gather information. This information determines the best way to launch an attack, what information is needed to crack the system, and what information is likely to be unsecured and, therefore, easiest to obtain. Footprinting is a way to learn more about your target. You can use public tools, like those for Windows and Linux, to scan a system's URL handling, SSL certificates and other legitimate aspects of system security. These tools can monitor a plan or look for weaknesses in network security. Footprinting is a term that you may hear in the context of network security. It's been around for a long time but is only sometimes used similarly.