Hack the Hackers 2026 – Master the Certified Ethical Hacker Challenge!

Passive footprinting is a reconnaissance technique used to gather information about a target without actively engaging with its systems or networks. The key characteristic of this method is that it can be conducted without communicating directly with the target machines, thus making it less intrusive and less likely to raise any alarms.

In passive footprinting, attackers typically gather publicly available information from sources such as social media, websites, domain registration records, and other open-source data. This allows them to build a profile of the target without any direct interaction.

The other options do not align with the nature of passive footprinting. Accessing the target machine directly contradicts the principle of passivity. Phishing techniques involve active deception and direct interaction, which is not applicable here. Lastly, while ethical considerations are critical in penetration testing and ethical hacking, passive footprinting itself isn't inherently unethical, as it often utilizes public information.