Null and Xmas scans are often used because they can detect security vulnerabilities and potential threats within a system. Null scans involve sending a series of null packets to a device, which can reveal information such as open ports and network services that are running. Xmas scans are similar in that they also send malformed packets, but they are designed to test for specific weaknesses in a device's security measures. Both of these scans can provide valuable information for identifying potential vulnerabilities and potential attack vectors.