Netcat Basics (Client Mode)

Netcat is called the Swiss Army Knife of networking utilities. Its versatile functionality as a client, server and remote shell binder and simple usage have made it an indispensable tool. It can be used both as a network debugging and as an exploration tool. In this 3 part series we will look at how to use Netcat as a Client, Server and a Remote Shell binder. These 3 are the most important functionalities of Netcat and it is necessary to understand them in a systematic and step by step way. The video below will discuss Netcat in Client mode functionality.

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In Part 2 and Part 3 of the Netcat series (listed below), we will look at how to use Netcat as a server and as a remote shell binder.

Links:

1. Netcat Homepage

2. Download Netcat

Vivek Ramachandran is a security evangelist and has been working in computer security related fields for the past 7 years. In 2007, Vivek spoke at world renowned conferences Defcon (WEP Cloaking Exposed) and Toorcon (The Caffe Latte Attack). The discovery of the Caffe Latte Attack was covered by CBS5 news, BBC online, Network World etc news agencies.In 2006, Vivek was announced as one of winners of the Microsoft Security Shootout contest held in India among 65,000 participants. He has also been a recipient of a Team Achievement at Cisco Systems for his work on 802.1x and Port Security modules on the Catalyst 6500 switches. Currently he spends all of his time maintaining Security- Freak.Net , SecurityTube.Net and is the founder of an online startup (currently in stealth mode). Vivek, is a Bachelor in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati.You can contact him at vivek[at]securitytube.net