In this episode we provide a foundational overview of Nmap, a critical cybersecurity tool. The discussion highlights Nmap's primary function in identifying open ports and their associated services on target systems, a crucial step for both network administrators assessing their infrastructure and ethical hackers seeking vulnerabilities. The speakers explain basic Nmap commands like nmap -sT [IP address] for TCP scans and nmap -sU [IP address] for UDP scans, detailing the underlying TCP/IP communication principles, such as the three-way handshake and flag responses, that Nmap leverages. Furthermore, the source debunks common misconceptions, such as the "stealthiness" of SYN scans, and emphasizes the importance of understanding non-default ports and operating system detection (-A switch) for a more comprehensive security posture.