Are you allowed port scanning?

@ryanpq thanks for your clear response. I am wondering though if there is a path for research projects that are maybe cleared with staff?

I would like to conduct a survey of active gopher servers on the internet (scanning just port 70), with relevant exclusion files for government networks or servers which have specifically expressed they would like to opt out of such scans, and reasonable packet rate transfers so as not to negatively impact other customers’ compute resources. All of this could be published. Is there any chance of applying for some sort of exception here? Because I would love to do this project on DO if y’all are open to it.

I understand the liability concerns with respect to port scanning, but I feel that there should be a way to conduct legitimate research projects along these lines.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Port scanning your own droplets and checking for vulnerabilities is allowed.

Port scanning servers you have received permissions to scan from your droplet is also allowed.

Port scanning servers that are not your own, from your droplet without permission would be considered abusive.

Scanning or vulnerability testing that utilizes flooding or load testing can affect other droplets on the same hypervisor and is not allowed.