In which stage of an attack does the attacker discover devices on a target network?
A . Reconnaissance
B . Covering tracks
C . Gaining access
D . Maintaining access
Answer: A
Explanation:
Reconnaissance: This is the discovery process used to find information about the network. It could include scans of the network to find out which IP addresses respond, and further scans to see which ports on the devices at these IP addresses are open. This is usually the first step taken, to discover what is on the network and to determine potential vulnerabilities.
Source: Cisco Official Certification Guide, Table 1-5 Attack Methods, p.13