200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
A network analyst notices a high volume of traffic from a single external IP address to multiple internal hosts on port 443. The traffic includes incomplete TCP handshakes. Which type of reconnaissance is being performed?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Active reconnaissance via port scanning
Active reconnaissance involves direct interaction with the target, such as port scanning, which generates traffic. Passive recon uses public data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Social engineering attack
Why it's wrong here
Social engineering manipulates people, not network traffic patterns like this.
- ✓
Active reconnaissance via port scanning
Why this is correct
Port scanning sends probes to identify open ports, generating traffic and incomplete connections.
- ✗
Denial of Service attack
Why it's wrong here
DoS aims to overwhelm services, not just scan for open ports.
- ✗
Passive reconnaissance using WHOIS
Why it's wrong here
WHOIS queries are passive and do not send packets to the target network.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.