Which term refers to the act of scanning for open ports and vulnerabilities?

The term that refers to the act of scanning for open ports and vulnerabilities is footprinting. Footprinting is a reconnaissance technique often used in network security assessments and penetration testing. During this process, an individual gathers information about a target system or network, which can include identifying open ports, services running on those ports, and potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

Footprinting is a crucial first step in the ethical hacking process, as it allows security professionals to understand the landscape of the network and identify areas that may be at risk. This process can involve using various tools and techniques to map out the network architecture, thereby providing valuable insights into the security posture of the organization.

Phishing refers to deceptive attempts to obtain sensitive information from individuals by pretending to be a trustworthy entity, while social engineering involves manipulating people into divulging confidential information. Network traffic analysis pertains to examining data packets transmitted over a network to monitor performance, detect anomalies, or diagnose issues, but it does not specifically focus on scanning for vulnerabilities.