Automated Network & Port Scanner

A professional-grade Python security tool developed in Visual Studio Code. This project demonstrates how to use low-level networking libraries to discover active hosts on a local network and audit specific ports for security vulnerabilities.

Key Features

• ARP Scanning: Broadcasts ARP requests to identify live devices via MAC address.
• TCP Port Discovery: Performs a SYN scan to detect open services (like SSH, HTTP).
• Automatic Logging: Exports all findings into a structured scan_results.csv file.
• Input Protection: Validates IP addresses using Regex (Regular Expressions) to prevent errors.

Getting Started

This project requires Python 3 and the Scapy library.

1. Clone the project

   git clone [https://github.com/obi-ijeomah/network-scanner.git](https://github.com/obi-ijeomah/network-scanner.git)
   

2. Install Scapy Run the following command in your terminal: pip install scapy

3. Start the scanner Open your terminal (Bash or PowerShell) in the project folder and run the script: python network_scanner.py

Using The Interface

1. Enter a single IP address (e.g., 203.0.113.42).

2. The script will attempt to find the MAC address and scan for common ports.

3. Type quit to exit and save the final report.

Project Structure

• automated_network_scanner.py: The main Python script.

• README.md: Documentation and instructions (the file you are reading).

• .gitignore: Prevents temporary cache files and your private scan results from being uploaded.

• scan_results.csv (Generated after scan): Contains the final report.

How It Works

The scanner uses a TCP Three-Way Handshake logic for port scanning. It sends a SYN packet; if the target responds with SYN-ACK, the port is considered open.

Disclaimer

This tool is for educational purposes only. Unauthorized scanning of networks is illegal. Always obtain explicit permission before running this tool against any network.