Netcat - The TCP/IP Swiss Army Knife

Netcat is a powerful tool that every security professional should be familiar with. It should be used with caution. I would not recommend installing netcat on your production networks. I would suggest using it to test your firewall, and router configurations in a test environment. It can also be used to test your operating system lockdown procedures. Be certain that you have the authority to install and use netcat on your network before doing so. You might even want to review the source code to learn how Hobbit built netcat and how Weld Pond ported it to the Windows platform.