What are two purposes of launching a reconnaissance attack on a network? (Choose two.)

Two primary purposes of launching a reconnaissance attack on a network are:

1. To Gather Information about the Network and Devices: The main goal of a reconnaissance attack is to collect as much information as possible about the target network and its devices. This includes identifying network topology, discovering devices connected to the network, understanding the network’s security posture, finding out software versions, and detecting services running on various devices. This information can be used to plan more targeted and effective attacks.
2. To Scan for Accessibility: Reconnaissance attacks often involve scanning the network to identify open ports, live hosts, and available services. This helps attackers find potential entry points into the network or vulnerable spots that can be exploited. Scanning can reveal weaknesses like unpatched software, misconfigured devices, or weak points in the network’s defense that can be leveraged in subsequent attacks.

The other options, such as escalating access privileges or preventing other users from accessing the system, are more aligned with the objectives of different types of attacks that may follow reconnaissance, like privilege escalation or denial-of-service attacks, respectively. Retrieving and modifying data is typically a goal of later stages of an attack, after initial reconnaissance has been conducted and vulnerabilities have been exploited.