Using Built-in Windows NetBIOS Tools

Before using professionally designed NetBIOS tools, it is wise for security testers to get to know how to use the ones that are built-in as part of the Windows Operating System (OS). Some such tools are the Net view, Nbtstat, and Net use commands. It is better to have a teammate work with you while practising these tools for viewing NetBIOS shares and services. After the use of the Nbtstat command for discovering the computers or servers on the network that are sharing a resource, the use of the Net use and the Net view commands can help with the enumeration of these shared resources and possible access to them from the comfort of your system.

To stsrt, log in to Windows, right click on Start and click on Explore. Click the Local Disk (C) in the Start menu, and then click on File in the Menu. Point at Net, and then click on Folder. Put in your first name as the name of the folder and press Enter. Right click on the newly created folder and go to Sharing and Security. In the dialog box of Properties, select the “Share this ffolderon the network” option by clicking on its check box and click OK, thereby accepting the share name. Then open a command prompt window and type ipconfig and Enter. Note down your own IP address and share it with your partner. Then “type \\your partner’s IP address” and press Enter. Note the output of the command. The Net use command can be used for connecting to computers having shared files or folders. Type “net use ?” and press Enter. Then type “net use \\your partner’s IP address\your partner’s shared folder” and press Enter. Note the results of this command as well. Then type “nbtstat –a your partner’s IP address” and press Enter. Finally close all open windows and decide who will boot with the all-important BackTrack DVD for the next such practice activity.