How to install Ncat on Windows

Windows hosts that need Netcat-style TCP checks should use Nmap's Ncat instead of an old standalone nc.exe build from an unknown source. Ncat ships with current Nmap releases and gives PowerShell a maintained command for listener/client tests, TLS connections, proxy handoffs, and simple data redirection.

The Nmap Windows self-installer is distributed from the official Nmap download page as nmap-<version>-setup.exe. It can install the full Nmap suite or selected components; keeping Ncat and path registration enabled lets new terminal sessions resolve ncat without typing the full install path.

The upstream installer path avoids package-manager manifests that can lag behind Nmap releases. A working install should resolve ncat.exe from PowerShell, report the expected Ncat version, and pass a loopback TCP test on 127.0.0.1.

Steps to install Ncat on Windows:

Open the official Nmap download page.
```
https://nmap.org/download.html
```
Download the latest stable Windows self-installer from the Microsoft Windows binaries section.

The filename follows nmap-<version>-setup.exe. The current release shown by Nmap is nmap-7.99-setup.exe.
Run the downloaded installer and approve the Windows elevation prompt.
Keep the Ncat component selected.

The installer can also install Nmap, Nping, Ndiff, Zenmap, and Npcap. Npcap is required for Nmap and Nping packet-capture features, but the local Ncat TCP test below does not require packet capture.
Keep path registration enabled before finishing the installer.

If the active terminal was already open, close it and open a new PowerShell window so it reads the updated PATH.

Confirm that PowerShell resolves ncat.exe.

PS> where.exe ncat
C:\Program Files (x86)\Nmap\ncat.exe

Check the installed Ncat version.
```
PS> ncat --version
Ncat: Version 7.99 ( https://nmap.org/ncat )
```
The exact version changes as Nmap releases change. The important signal is that ncat starts and reports a Ncat version line.
Start a loopback TCP listener in the first PowerShell window.
```
PS> ncat -l 127.0.0.1 9000
```
Send a test line from a second PowerShell window.
```
PS> "hello from Windows" | ncat 127.0.0.1 9000
```
Confirm that the listener prints the same line.
```
PS> ncat -l 127.0.0.1 9000
hello from Windows
```