for: Vulnerability scanner

Militarily, reconnaissance is the active seeking to determine a foe's intentions by collecting and gathering information about an enemy's composition and capabilities along with pertinent environmental conditions, via direct observation, usually by scouts or military intelligence soldiers especially trained in critical surveillance.

Reconnaissance is part of combat intelligence, and contributes to, and is managed by, the government-level intelligence cycle management. Compare to counterintelligence and surveillance, which are the passive gathering of data and information. Special reconnaissance is the reconnaissance sub-activity of clandestinely collecting data and information by people and with technology behind enemy lines.

Civil uses of the term reconnaissance occur in geology, the "examination or survey of the general geological characteristics of a region", and in computer networking and security it is an "exploration or enumeration of network infrastructure including network addresses, available communication ports, and available services."

Elements

• Spacial — is the reconnaissance of any celestial bodies in space by use of spacecraft and satellite photography.
• Aerial — the reconnaissance by unmanned or manned aerial vehicles, or aircraft.
• Terrestrial — is a type of reconnaissance that is employed along the elements of ground warfare.
• Naval — the reconnaissance of oceanic brown, green, and blue waters.

Military reconnaissance

Examples of military reconnaissance include patrolling by troops, ships, submarines, or aircraft, or by setting up covert observation posts. Reconnaissance may also be carried out by satellites or unmanned aircraft.

Espionage normally is not reconnaissance, because reconnaissance is a military force's operating ahead of its main forces; spies are non-combatants operating behind enemy lines.

U.S. military reconnaissance acronyms are: SALT (size, activity, location, and time), SALUTE (size, activity, location, uniform, time, equipment), SAM & DOC (strength, armament, movement, deployment, organization, communications).

Types of Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance missions are characterized by the depth of penetration required, in terms of time, risk coordination, and support requirements.

• Close — conducted in the area extending forward of the 'forward edge of the battle area' or FEBA) to the 'Fire Support Coordination Line' (or FSCL ).
• Distant — concerned in location, disposition, composition and movement of enemy forces, beyond the limits of the FSCL. Both the FEBA and FSCL are in the Area of Influence, within the range of friendly artillery.
• Deep — conducted beyond the commander's Area of Influence to the limits of the commander's Area of Interest. Usually directed toward in ascertaining the disposition of enemy reinforcements. Popularly known as 'behind enemy lines'.