TCP Handshake and Port Scanning Fundamentals with Scapy

Network analysis begins with understanding how devices communicate at the packet level. To secure or audit a network, you must first master the fundamental handshakes and scan types that identify active services. This text-only course guides you from the absolute basics of network protocols to writing your own functional port scanners. You will learn the exact mechanics of the TCP three-way handshake, understand how different scan types interact with target systems, and write custom network scripts using Scapy and modern Python practices. What you'll learn: - Understand the core phases and flags of the TCP three-way handshake - Write custom network packet crafting scripts using Scapy - Analyze the differences between SYN, Connect, and FIN port scans - Interpret network responses to identify open, closed, and filtered ports - Apply modern Python coding standards to write clean, maintainable security scripts - Practice ethical scanning techniques and understand basic intrusion detection patterns The course begins with essential networking definitions and TCP flag mechanics before moving into step-by-step scripting exercises. You will read clear explanations of packet structures and apply this knowledge by building simple, custom scanning tools. Designed for beginners in cybersecurity, network administration, or ethical hacking, this course requires no prior network scripting experience, though a basic familiarity with Python is helpful. Start reading today to master the core communication protocols that power modern network security.