Shodan is a tool used for which primary purpose?

Shodan is a tool used for which primary purpose?

• A. It indexes information about internet-connected devices
• B. It provides intrusion detection rule sets
• C. It performs passive network monitoring
• D. It monitors malware

Answer: (A)

Shodan is a search engine for internet-connected devices. Its main purpose is to index information about those devices—such as open ports, running services, banners, firmware, and sometimes location or organization—so you can query the internet for devices that match certain traits. This lets security researchers, asset managers, and defenders discover what devices are exposed publicly and assess potential risks. It isn’t about intrusion detection rules, passive network monitoring, or malware monitoring, which are handled by other tools and techniques. Shodan focuses on collecting and indexing device metadata to reveal what’s reachable on the internet.

Shodan is a search engine for internet-connected devices. Its main purpose is to index information about those devices—such as open ports, running services, banners, firmware, and sometimes location or organization—so you can query the internet for devices that match certain traits. This lets security researchers, asset managers, and defenders discover what devices are exposed publicly and assess potential risks. It isn’t about intrusion detection rules, passive network monitoring, or malware monitoring, which are handled by other tools and techniques. Shodan focuses on collecting and indexing device metadata to reveal what’s reachable on the internet.