Quick Answer
The answer is Shodan, the correct choice because it is purpose-built to scan the internet for exposed devices and services by collecting banners and metadata from protocols like HTTP, SSH, FTP, and SNMP. Unlike general search engines, Shodan indexes device-specific information such as firmware versions and open ports, making it uniquely effective for discovering industrial control systems, webcams, and other IoT devices that respond to network probes. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this question tests your understanding of reconnaissance tools and the distinction between Shodan and general-purpose search engines like Google or Bing, which do not index device banners. A common trap is confusing Shodan with vulnerability scanners like Nmap or Nessus, but remember: Shodan is a search engine for exposed devices, not a local scanning tool. To recall this, think of the mnemonic “Shodan Scans Banners” — it searches the internet for device banners, not just web pages.
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of footprinting, reconnaissance and 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.
Which of the following tools is specifically designed to search the internet for exposed devices and services, such as industrial control systems and webcams, using banners and metadata?
Maltego
Why wrong: Maltego is a link analysis and data mining tool, not a device search engine.
Nmap
Why wrong: Nmap is a network scanning tool, not a search engine for internet devices.
Shodan
Shodan is specifically designed to search for internet-connected devices and services by their banners.
Why wrong: Google is a general-purpose search engine, not specialized in device banners.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Shodan
Shodan is a search engine specifically designed to scan the internet for exposed devices and services by collecting banners and metadata from protocols such as HTTP, SSH, FTP, and SNMP. Unlike general-purpose search engines, Shodan indexes device-specific information, making it ideal for discovering industrial control systems (ICS), webcams, and other IoT devices that respond to network probes.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Maltego
Why it's wrong here
Maltego is a link analysis and data mining tool, not a device search engine.
Nmap
Why it's wrong here
Nmap is a network scanning tool, not a search engine for internet devices.
Shodan
Why this is correct
Shodan is specifically designed to search for internet-connected devices and services by their banners.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Why it's wrong here
Google is a general-purpose search engine, not specialized in device banners.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse Shodan with a general-purpose search engine like Google or a network mapping tool like Nmap, failing to recognize that Shodan is purpose-built for indexing device banners and metadata from internet-connected systems.
Detailed technical explanation
Shodan works by sending probe requests to every IPv4 address on the internet and parsing the banners returned by services (e.g., the Server header in HTTP, the SSH version string, or the SNMP sysDescr). It indexes over 100 protocols, including Modbus, BACnet, and Siemens S7, which are common in ICS environments. A real-world scenario is using Shodan to identify exposed SCADA systems that lack authentication, a critical security risk for critical infrastructure.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CEH exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Footprinting, Reconnaissance and Scanning — This question tests Footprinting, Reconnaissance and Scanning — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Shodan — Shodan is a search engine specifically designed to scan the internet for exposed devices and services by collecting banners and metadata from protocols such as HTTP, SSH, FTP, and SNMP. Unlike general-purpose search engines, Shodan indexes device-specific information, making it ideal for discovering industrial control systems (ICS), webcams, and other IoT devices that respond to network probes.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CEH practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council 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 CEH exam.
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