The phase of hacking where the attacker creates a profile of the target is known as and is also referred to as

The stage of hacking where the attacker constructs a profile of the target is recognized as Foot-printing and is also referred to as reconnaissance. Reconnaissance is perhaps the extensive phase that is occasionally weeks or months. The black hat uses a diversity of causes to learn as much as likely about the target business and how it functions as well as internet searches, social engineering, dumpster diving, domain name management or search services and non-intrusive network scanning. The undertakings in this phase are not easy to protect against. Facts about an organization find its method to the internet via many routes and employees are often trapped into providing tidbits data which over time, act to complete a complete picture of procedures, organizational arrangement and possible soft spots. 

The answer should be b.