What type of reconnaissance does not involve direct interaction with the target?

Passive reconnaissance involves gathering information without directly interacting with the target. This method allows ethical hackers and security professionals to collect data from publicly available sources, such as social media, websites, network traffic, and domain name registrations. By relying on open-source intelligence (OSINT), an individual can compile a wealth of information about a target's infrastructure, potential vulnerabilities, and security posture without triggering alerts or drawing attention.

In contrast, active reconnaissance is characterized by direct engagement with the target system, such as sending requests or probes to test the network and gather information, which can alert the target to the presence of a potential attacker. Vulnerability scanning, another active method, involves employing automated tools to identify weaknesses in a system through direct interaction. Enumeration specifically targets more detailed information retrieval, including user accounts and services running on a system, which also requires active interaction.

Thus, the correct choice highlights the essence of passive reconnaissance as an unobtrusive and stealthy means of gathering intelligence, which is crucial for ethical hacking practices.