When it comes to cybersecurity, the term "port" is sure to come up. Whenever servers and network devices are involved, port security issues are unavoidable.
With the increasing number of cloud servers and website services, ToDetect online port scanning has also become an essential daily tool for many people.
However, many people don’t know exactly how to use port scanning tools. Next, we will share a detailed guide and practical tips on the common features of online port scanning tools.

Many attacks are not due to highly advanced vulnerabilities but because of "exposed ports". Some default open ports, forgotten test services, or accidentally exposed backend entries to the public network are favorite entry points for hackers.
Therefore, regularly performing port security checks is like regular health check-ups and is an important step to ensure long-term server health.
Common high-risk port exposure scenarios include:
SSH (22) exposure leading to brute-force attacks
Redis (6379) unauthorized access
MySQL (3306) missing external access restrictions
Web backend ports exposed, such as 8080, 8000, 9000, etc.
Enter an IP or domain to see if common ports are open, such as 80, 443, 22, 3389, etc.
Suitable scenarios: Quickly check server exposure, self-check before launching new servers, and verify security group/firewall configuration.
Some online scanners support full port scans from 1–65535, suitable for security self-checks or penetration testing preparation.
Suitable scenarios: When unsure of what unexpected services are exposed on the server and want to check all open ports at once.
⚠ Note: Full port scanning requires authorization for the target server, otherwise it may be illegal.
Some platforms provide automatic risk alerts based on scan results, such as weak passwords, unauthorized access, high-risk ports exposure, and outdated service versions.
Very user-friendly for non-professionals, who can directly act based on the alerts.
Many platforms integrate extended tools, such as ToDetect Browser Fingerprint Lookup, which can analyze device fingerprints, IP information, and User-Agent.
Useful for website security audits, risk control strategies, and traffic analysis.
Other common extended features include HTTP Header analysis, CDN/real IP detection, SSL certificate checks, and basic vulnerability scanning.
Combined with port scanning, these features provide a more comprehensive understanding of a website’s external exposure.
Beginner webmasters checking server security
To prevent opening unnecessary ports by mistake.
DevOps / Operations engineers checking before launch
Similar to QA testing, to avoid accidental port exposure.
Cybersecurity professionals preparing for penetration testing
A key step in the information gathering phase.
Internal enterprise security audits
Quickly identify risk assets in complex operations.
In real attack cases, about 80% of attacks originate from exposed ports, such as:
SSH, FTP, Redis being brute-forced with weak passwords
MongoDB, ElasticSearch unauthorized access leading to database leaks
Infected with cryptocurrency mining malware
Website backend ports attacked, causing malware injection or redirects
✔ Confirm permissions before scanning
Only scan your own servers to avoid legal risks.
✔ Handle results promptly after scanning
Close unnecessary ports, change default ports, configure security groups, set whitelists, etc.
✔ Scan regularly, not just once
Hackers won’t wait for you to fix issues; security checks should be continuous.
With online port scanning, you can quickly understand your server’s external exposure and promptly detect open ports, misconfigurations, and potential risks.
Knowing how to use port scanning is not only a way to raise security awareness but also a key step in protecting your business.
If you don’t know where to start, you can use ToDetect’s online port scanning, service identification, and risk alert platform to give your website a “health check” first.