Scanning a network with a ready-made tool is easy. Understanding what actually happens “under the hood” is a different story. In this “Python-First” lab, we put aside automated tools to get our hands dirty with sockets and code. The goal? To map a local “Mystery Machine” full of unknown services, building the analysis tools ourselves. Key activities:

• Build the Scanner: Write code to identify open ports and map the attack surface.

• Service Discovery: Understand how to query a service to reveal its identity and function (Banner Grabbing and response analysis).

• Direct Interaction: Use Python to communicate with different protocols, send specific inputs, and solve the challenges the services present. This isn’t just about security; it’s about mastering the network stack: essential for anyone who wants to truly understand how computers communicate.