200-201 Network Intrusion Analysis Practice Question
An analyst captures traffic and sees a TCP connection with only a SYN packet and an RST response. No SYN-ACK is observed. Which scan technique is this?
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
✓
TCP SYN scan
A SYN scan sends a SYN and expects a SYN-ACK; if an RST is received, the port is closed. Incomplete handshake without SYN-ACK indicates a half-open scan.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
TCP SYN scan
Why this is correct
SYN scan uses SYN packets, and RST indicates closed port.
- ✗
Ping sweep
Why it's wrong here
Ping sweep uses ICMP.
- ✗
UDP scan
Why it's wrong here
UDP scan uses UDP datagrams, not TCP SYN.
- ✗
TCP connect scan
Why it's wrong here
TCP connect completes the handshake.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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