CPENT Network And Perimeter Exploitation Practice Question
A penetration tester is operating inside a segmented corporate network and needs to scan a target subnet using TCP SYN packets while randomizing the order of scanned hosts and ports to evade intrusion detection systems. Which Nmap option implements this randomization?
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
✓
--randomize-hosts
The --randomize-hosts option tells Nmap to randomize the order in which it scans hosts, helping to evade threshold-based IDS/IPS alerts.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
-T0
Why it's wrong here
-T0 sets the timing template to paranoid, which makes the scan extremely slow rather than randomizing hosts.
- ✗
--spoof-mac
Why it's wrong here
--spoof-mac spoofs the source MAC address.
- ✗
-D
Why it's wrong here
-D enables decoy scanning.
- ✓
--randomize-hosts
Why this is correct
--randomize-hosts randomizes target host scanning order to reduce detection.
Visual reference
About these practice questions
One of 274 original CPENT practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official EC-Council exam blueprint
This CPENT 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 CPENT exam.