Internet TCP port 80 is most commonly used by web servers running the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This includes popular web server software such as Apache HTTP Server, Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS), and NGINX. Web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari also use port 80 to send and receive requested web pages. Additionally, some content management systems like WordPress and Drupal use this port for web-based administration.
TCP port 80, which is commonly used for HTTP traffic, has been exploited in the past by hackers in several ways. One common method is the use of port 80 for command and control communication in botnets, as traffic on this port is often not blocked or closely monitored. Hackers have also exploited port 80 through HTTP tunneling, where they encapsulate traffic from other protocols within HTTP to bypass firewall restrictions. Additionally, port 80 has been used for web server attacks, where hackers exploit vulnerabilities in the server software to gain unauthorized access or disrupt service. Lastly, port 80 has been used in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, where hackers flood the port with traffic to overwhelm the server and disrupt service.
