CompTIA PenTest+ Practice Test

What command-line utility is versatile but does not use encryption?

1. Netcat

2. Ncat

3. SSH

4. Telnet

The correct answer is: Netcat

Netcat is a powerful and versatile command-line utility primarily used for reading from and writing to network connections. It can create TCP or UDP connections and is often utilized for tasks such as port scanning, file transfers, and creating network clients and servers. One of its key characteristics is that it does not incorporate built-in encryption for data transmission, which means that data sent through Netcat can be intercepted in plain text, making it less secure compared to other options that implement encryption. For instance, both SSH and Ncat offer encryption features, with SSH providing a secure shell environment and data encryption for remote command execution. Telnet also does not utilize encryption, but it is typically regarded as less versatile compared to Netcat’s functionality for various networking tasks. Thus, the focus on Netcat's lack of encryption makes it the correct answer, emphasizing both its versatility and the security implications of transmitting unencrypted data.