What is the aim of enumeration in network security?

The aim of enumeration in network security is to extract information by creating active connections. Enumeration is a process that involves gathering detailed information about a target network or system, which often requires connecting to various services and protocols to retrieve data such as user accounts, groups, and network shares. This information can be vital for an attacker to identify potential vulnerabilities and plan further attacks.

By actively probing systems and collecting this information, an ethical hacker can pinpoint weak areas that could be exploited, thereby allowing organizations to take proactive measures to secure their networks. This phase typically follows scanning, where initial reconnaissance is performed to identify live hosts and services.

The other aspects mentioned in the choices pertain to different facets of network security. Protecting against viruses and malware focuses on defensive measures rather than information gathering. Mapping out firewall rules involves analyzing and creating diagrams of network security policies but does not inherently involve active information extraction. Monitoring network traffic for anomalies is a crucial part of detection and response, aimed at identifying suspicious activity rather than the enumeration process itself.