Project Title

nmap — Network Mapping and Security Scanning Tool

Overview

Nmap is a powerful open-source utility for network discovery and security auditing. It allows users to scan large networks, identify open ports, and detect running services. Nmap is unique in its ability to perform comprehensive network scans and is widely used by network administrators, security professionals, and penetration testers. Its custom license allows free usage by end users, with commercial options available for redistribution.

Key Features

Comprehensive network scanning capabilities
Detection of open ports and running services
Customizable scanning options for various network environments
Graphical user interface with Zenmap

Use Cases

Network administrators use Nmap to audit their network infrastructure for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
Security professionals employ Nmap for penetration testing to identify potential attack vectors.
IT teams use Nmap to ensure compliance with security policies by scanning for unauthorized services.

Advantages

Highly customizable scanning options to suit various network environments
Supports a wide range of network protocols and services
Includes a graphical user interface for easier use
Active community and regular updates ensure reliability and security

Limitations / Considerations

Nmap's scanning activities may be detected by intrusion detection systems
Misuse of Nmap can lead to legal issues and ethical concerns
The learning curve can be steep for new users due to the multitude of options and features

Wireshark: A network protocol analyzer used for network troubleshooting, analysis, and security monitoring. Unlike Nmap, Wireshark focuses on capturing and analyzing network traffic.
Nessus: A vulnerability scanner that provides a comprehensive view of network security posture. Nessus is more focused on vulnerability assessment compared to Nmap's network scanning capabilities.
OpenVAS: An open-source vulnerability scanning and management tool. While OpenVAS is more centered on vulnerability detection, Nmap offers broader network scanning features.

Basic Information

GitHub: https://github.com/nmap/nmap
Stars: 11,383
License: Unknown
Last Commit: 2025-07-16

📊 Project Information

Project Name: nmap
GitHub URL: https://github.com/nmap/nmap
Programming Language: C
⭐ Stars: 11,383
🍴 Forks: 2,582
📅 Created: 2012-03-09
🔄 Last Updated: 2025-07-16

🏷️ Project Topics

Topics: [, ", a, s, y, n, c, h, r, o, n, o, u, s, ", ,, , ", c, -, p, l, u, s, -, p, l, u, s, ", ,, , ", l, i, b, p, c, a, p, ", ,, , ", l, i, n, u, x, ", ,, , ", l, u, a, ", ,, , ", m, a, c, h, i, n, e, -, l, e, a, r, n, i, n, g, ", ,, , ", n, e, t, c, a, t, ", ,, , ", n, e, t, w, o, r, k, -, d, i, s, c, o, v, e, r, y, ", ,, , ", n, m, a, p, ", ,, , ", o, s, x, ", ,, , ", p, c, r, e, ", ,, , ", p, i, n, g, ", ,, , ", p, o, r, t, -, s, c, a, n, n, e, r, ", ,, , ", s, e, c, u, r, i, t, y, ", ,, , ", s, e, r, v, i, c, e, -, d, i, s, c, o, v, e, r, y, ", ,, , ", s, o, c, k, e, t, ", ,, , ", w, i, n, d, o, w, s, ", ]