A port scanner works by sending requests to specific ports on a host and analyzing the responses to determine their status:
Using the PortQry command-line tool - Windows Server | Microsoft Learn Port-Scanner.exe
: The application is actively listening for connections. A port scanner works by sending requests to
: A firewall or other security device is blocking the request, making it impossible to determine the status. Security Warnings security software often flags these executables.
Because port scanning is a primary technique used by hackers to find vulnerabilities (such as "open doors" into a network), security software often flags these executables.