Unicornscan: Not Polished, but Very Fast
Unicornscan isn’t here to replace Nmap. It follows a different path. It’s made for those moments when you need output — fast, at scale, and preferably without setting off alarms. It’s not something you’d use daily, but when you do need it, nothing else works quite the same.
Instead of waiting for replies, it sends out probes rapidly and without attachment. Stateless, asynchronous, raw. This style of scanning works especially well in places where networks are flaky or monitored closely.
What It Brings to the Table
| Capability | Why It Matters |
| Asynchronous TCP/UDP scans | Launches thousands of probes quickly without waiting for answers |
| Stateless design | Consumes fewer resources and avoids connection tracking |
| Custom packet flags | Lets users hand-craft packets — flags, payloads, even fragmentation |
| UDP handling | Scans non-TCP services that many tools overlook |
| Banner grabbing | Can pull info from HTTP, SMTP, SNMP, and more |
| IPv6 ready | Dual-stack networks are fully supported |
Requirements and Setup
Unicornscan runs best on Unix-like systems — Debian, Kali, Arch, FreeBSD. There’s no GUI, just terminal use. Lightweight and low on dependencies.
– OS: Linux or BSD
– Dependencies: libpcap, libnet
– Interface: CLI only
– Resources: Minimal CPU and memory usage
Quick Install (Ubuntu)
Try installing from the package manager first:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install unicornscan
If not available, compile it manually:
git clone https://github.com/unicornscan/unicornscan.git
cd unicornscan
make && sudo make install
Example scan:
unicornscan -Iv 192.168.1.1:a
That fires off a full TCP SYN scan on all ports.
Where It’s Actually Useful
– Red teams running recon before engagement
– Network researchers simulating noisy environments
– High-latency connections where Nmap slows down
– Building custom service fingerprint lists
– Situations that require a lower-profile scan signature
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strong points:
– Simple and fast
– Script-friendly
– Handles less common protocols and ports
– Great for raw packet access and custom logic
Limitations:
– Development has slowed
– Output isn’t beginner-friendly
– Doesn’t replace post-scan analysis tools
– Documentation is sparse — expect trial and error
Final Note
This isn’t a tool for the casual user. Unicornscan works best in hands that know what they’re looking for. It’s raw, fast, and a bit out of the way — which is sometimes exactly what a network scan requires.
