- A
Use Shodan to search for the target's IP address or domain and review the gathered banners.
Shodan's database contains data from previous scans, including HTTP server headers, banners, and other service fingerprints. This is a purely passive technique that leverages publicly available data.
- B
Perform a DNS zone transfer to obtain internal server information.
Why wrong: A DNS zone transfer is an active query that sends a request to the DNS server. Many servers restrict zone transfers, and even if successful, the data obtained does not typically include web server software versions.
- C
Use netcat to connect to port 80 and read the HTTP banner.
Why wrong: Netcat establishes a TCP connection to the target, which is an active interaction. This will be logged and is not passive.
- D
Use nmap -sV with a delayed scan to avoid detection.
Why wrong: Nmap sends packets to the target to perform version detection. Even with a slow timing template, it is still active scanning and will generate traffic that could be detected.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use Shodan to search for the target’s IP address or domain and review the gathered banners. This technique is effective because Shodan is a search engine that continuously crawls the internet, indexing service banners from open ports—including HTTP headers that reveal web server software and version details. Since Shodan collects this data passively over time, querying its database allows a tester to obtain the information without sending a single packet to the target’s infrastructure, perfectly fulfilling the requirement for passive reconnaissance. On the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 exam, this question tests your understanding of passive vs. active reconnaissance, often appearing in scenarios where stealth is critical. A common trap is confusing Shodan with active tools like Nmap or netcat, which send probes. Remember the memory tip: “Shodan stores the banners, so you don’t have to send the packets.”
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 wants to identify the web server software and version used by a target organization without sending any packets to the target's infrastructure. Which of the following techniques is most effective for this purpose?
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
Use Shodan to search for the target's IP address or domain and review the gathered banners.
Shodan is a search engine that continuously scans the internet and stores service banners from various ports. By querying the target's IP address or domain, the penetration tester can retrieve previously collected HTTP headers and other service banners without sending any packets to the target, thus achieving passive reconnaissance.
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.
- ✓
Use Shodan to search for the target's IP address or domain and review the gathered banners.
Why this is correct
Shodan's database contains data from previous scans, including HTTP server headers, banners, and other service fingerprints. This is a purely passive technique that leverages publicly available data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Perform a DNS zone transfer to obtain internal server information.
Why it's wrong here
A DNS zone transfer is an active query that sends a request to the DNS server. Many servers restrict zone transfers, and even if successful, the data obtained does not typically include web server software versions.
- ✗
Use netcat to connect to port 80 and read the HTTP banner.
Why it's wrong here
Netcat establishes a TCP connection to the target, which is an active interaction. This will be logged and is not passive.
- ✗
Use nmap -sV with a delayed scan to avoid detection.
Why it's wrong here
Nmap sends packets to the target to perform version detection. Even with a slow timing template, it is still active scanning and will generate traffic that could be detected.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse passive reconnaissance with low-and-slow active scanning, mistakenly believing that techniques like delayed nmap scans or netcat connections are passive when they still generate detectable network traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Shodan works by indexing banners returned from services like HTTP, FTP, SSH, and Telnet during its own periodic scans. The stored banners include the Server header (e.g., 'Apache/2.4.41') and other response fields, allowing a tester to identify software versions without any direct interaction. In a real-world scenario, this passive approach is critical for stealthy reconnaissance against well-defended targets that monitor for unexpected inbound connections.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Use Shodan to search for the target's IP address or domain and review the gathered banners. — Shodan is a search engine that continuously scans the internet and stores service banners from various ports. By querying the target's IP address or domain, the penetration tester can retrieve previously collected HTTP headers and other service banners without sending any packets to the target, thus achieving passive reconnaissance.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on PT0-002
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A penetration tester wants to identify the operating system of a remote host without sending any traffic to the target network. Which of the following techniques is most effective for this purpose?
easy- A.Perform an nmap OS fingerprint scan on the host.
- ✓ B.Use Shodan to search for the host's IP address and examine the service banners.
- C.Send a ping sweep to the host's network segment.
- D.Use ARP scanning to discover the host's MAC address and look up the vendor.
Why B: Option B is correct because Shodan is a search engine that indexes service banners and metadata from internet-connected devices. By querying Shodan for the target's IP address, the tester can retrieve previously collected OS information without sending any packets to the target, satisfying the 'no traffic' constraint.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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