mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped

A penetration tester wants to identify hosts on a network that are running web servers on any TCP port, including non-standard ports. Which Nmap command is most efficient for this task?

Question 1mediummultiple choice
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A penetration tester wants to identify hosts on a network that are running web servers on any TCP port, including non-standard ports. Which Nmap command is most efficient for this task?

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.

A

Best answer

nmap -sV -p- target

This scans all TCP ports and performs service detection, making it possible to identify web servers running on any port.

B

Distractor review

nmap -sC -p 80,443 target

This only scans ports 80 and 443 with default scripts, missing web servers on non-standard ports.

C

Distractor review

nmap -O -p- target

OS detection (-O) does not identify services; it determines the operating system, which is not the goal here.

D

Distractor review

nmap -sT -p 8000,8080 target

This only scans two common alternative ports, missing many other possibilities and using a full TCP connect scan which is slower.

Common exam trap

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Technical deep dive

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
  • Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

  • Underline the problem statement mentally.
  • 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.

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.

More questions from this exam

Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PT0-002 question test?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: nmap -sV -p- target — Using the -sV flag enables service version detection, which identifies the application listening on each port. The -p- option scans all 65535 TCP ports. Combining these allows the tester to find web servers on any port. Scanning only common ports (80, 443) would miss non-standard ports. OS detection (-O) and default scripts (-sC) are not focused on identifying web servers.

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

Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.

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