Courseiva
← PT0-002
Full test
Question 541 of 1,000
Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PT0-002 Practice Question: Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning

This PT0-002 practice question tests your understanding of information gathering and vulnerability scanning. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A penetration tester is using Nmap to perform host discovery on a target network 192.168.1.0/24. The tester wants to identify live hosts without scanning ports. Which Nmap command should be used?

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

✓

nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

Option D is correct because the `-sn` flag in Nmap performs a ping sweep (host discovery) without scanning any ports. It sends ICMP echo requests, TCP SYN to port 443, TCP ACK to port 80, and ICMP timestamp requests by default to determine which hosts are alive on the 192.168.1.0/24 network, making it the ideal choice for identifying live hosts without port scanning.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • ✗

    nmap -A 192.168.1.0/24

    Why it's wrong here

    Aggressive scan includes port scanning, OS detection, etc.

  • ✗

    nmap -sS 192.168.1.0/24

    Why it's wrong here

    SYN scan performs port scanning, not just host discovery.

  • ✗

    nmap -sV 192.168.1.0/24

    Why it's wrong here

    Version detection requires open ports and scans services.

  • ✓

    nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

    Why this is correct

    Ping sweep discovers live hosts without port scanning.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse `-sn` with `-sS` or `-A`, mistakenly thinking that a stealth scan or aggressive scan is needed for host discovery, when in fact `-sn` is the dedicated, port-free host discovery option.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The `-sn` option (formerly `-sP`) uses a multi-method host discovery approach: it sends an ICMP echo request, a TCP SYN to port 443, a TCP ACK to port 80, and an ICMP timestamp request. If the target responds to any of these probes, Nmap marks it as alive. In real-world scenarios, firewalls may block ICMP, but the TCP probes often succeed because many hosts respond to SYN or ACK packets even if the port is closed, ensuring robust host discovery without port scanning.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
  • Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
  • Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

  • Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
  • Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.

Visual reference

Client Server SYN (seq=100) SYN-ACK (seq=200, ack=101) ACK (ack=201) Connection established — data transfer begins

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Related practice questions

Related PT0-002 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning practice questions

Practise PT0-002 questions linked to Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning.

Planning and Scoping practice questions

Practise PT0-002 questions linked to Planning and Scoping.

Reporting and Communication practice questions

Practise PT0-002 questions linked to Reporting and Communication.

Attacks and Exploits practice questions

Practise PT0-002 questions linked to Attacks and Exploits.

Tools and Code Analysis practice questions

Practise PT0-002 questions linked to Tools and Code Analysis.

PT0-002 fundamentals practice questions

Practise PT0-002 questions linked to PT0-002 fundamentals.

PT0-002 scenario practice questions

Practise PT0-002 questions linked to PT0-002 scenario.

PT0-002 troubleshooting practice questions

Practise PT0-002 questions linked to PT0-002 troubleshooting.

Practice this exam

Start a free PT0-002 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

10 questions20 questions30 questions50 questionsTimed 30
PT0-002 practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PT0-002 question test?

Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning — This question tests Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24 — Option D is correct because the `-sn` flag in Nmap performs a ping sweep (host discovery) without scanning any ports. It sends ICMP echo requests, TCP SYN to port 443, TCP ACK to port 80, and ICMP timestamp requests by default to determine which hosts are alive on the 192.168.1.0/24 network, making it the ideal choice for identifying live hosts without port scanning.

What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

About these practice questions

Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

Question Discussion

Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.

Loading comments…

Sign in to join the discussion.

This PT0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 PT0-002 exam.