Quick Answer
The answer is web server software and version, hosting provider, and country of origin. Netcraft site reports gather this information by analyzing public-facing data such as HTTP response headers, DNS records, and IP address mapping via WHOIS and BGP routing, all of which are standard passive reconnaissance techniques. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this question tests your understanding of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and the distinction between passive and active information gathering—a common trap is confusing Netcraft’s external data with internal server logs or database details, which it cannot access. Remember that Netcraft reveals what is publicly exposed, not what is hidden behind a firewall. A useful memory tip is “W.H.C.”: Web server, Hosting provider, and Country—three pillars of external reconnaissance that require no direct interaction with the target.
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of footprinting and reconnaissance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 THREE of the following are valid pieces of information that can be gathered from a properly configured Netcraft site report? (Select exactly 3.)
Internal IP addresses of the servers
Why wrong: Netcraft shows public IP.
Hosting provider and country
Netcraft shows hosting location.
Site's first seen date and uptime history
Netcraft tracks history.
Web server software and version
Netcraft identifies server info.
Employee email addresses
Why wrong: Netcraft does not provide emails.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Hosting provider and country
Netcraft site reports are derived from external, public-facing data sources, including DNS records, HTTP response headers, and historical crawl data. The hosting provider and country are identified by mapping the site's public IP address to WHOIS and BGP routing information, which is a standard part of Netcraft's passive reconnaissance.
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.
Internal IP addresses of the servers
Why it's wrong here
Netcraft shows public IP.
Hosting provider and country
Why this is correct
Netcraft shows hosting location.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Site's first seen date and uptime history
Why this is correct
Netcraft tracks history.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Web server software and version
Why this is correct
Netcraft identifies server info.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Employee email addresses
Why it's wrong here
Netcraft does not provide emails.
Common exam traps
EC-Council often tests the distinction between passive reconnaissance (which yields only public information) and active reconnaissance (which might reveal internal details), leading candidates to mistakenly assume that internal IPs or employee emails are obtainable from a public site report.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Netcraft shows public IP.
Detailed technical explanation
Netcraft's 'Site Report' tool performs a series of passive probes, including an HTTP GET request to capture the Server header (e.g., 'Apache/2.4.41') and a DNS lookup to resolve the domain to its public IP. The 'first seen' date is derived from Netcraft's historical crawl database, which tracks when the site was first observed, while uptime history is calculated from periodic availability checks. This data is invaluable for identifying technology stacks and infrastructure changes over time.
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 and Reconnaissance — This question tests Footprinting and Reconnaissance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Hosting provider and country — Netcraft site reports are derived from external, public-facing data sources, including DNS records, HTTP response headers, and historical crawl data. The hosting provider and country are identified by mapping the site's public IP address to WHOIS and BGP routing information, which is a standard part of Netcraft's passive reconnaissance.
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 30, 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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