Sniffer

A sniffer (also known as a packet sniffer or network analyzer) is a tool that is used to capture and analyze network traffic. In the context of cybersecurity, sniffers are often used to monitor network activity and identify potential security threats, such as malware infections or unauthorized access attempts. Sniffers can be used to capture packets of data transmitted over a network, allowing analysts to examine the contents and headers of each packet to understand the nature of the traffic and identify any potential threats. Some common uses of sniffers in cybersecurity include network analysis, troubleshooting, and incident response.

Here is a list of some popular sniffers commonly used in cybersecurity:

• wireshark – Wireshark is an open-source packet sniffer that is widely used for network analysis and troubleshooting. It is a powerful tool that allows users to capture and examine packets of data transmitted over a network in real-time, providing a detailed view of network activity and traffic patterns. Wireshark includes a wide range of features and tools for analyzing network traffic, including the ability to filter and search for specific packets, decode and dissect packet contents, and view statistics and graphs of network activity. It is a popular choice for cybersecurity professionals, network administrators, and IT professionals, and is supported on a variety of platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • TShark – TShark is a command-line packet sniffer that is part of the Wireshark suite of tools. Like Wireshark, TShark is used for capturing and analyzing network traffic, but it is designed to be run from the command line rather than through a graphical user interface (GUI). TShark is often used for automated network analysis and monitoring tasks, as it can be run in the background and configured to capture specific types of traffic or packets. It includes a wide range of features and tools for analyzing network traffic, including the ability to filter and search for specific packets, decode and dissect packet contents, and view statistics and graphs of network activity. TShark is supported on a variety of platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Capinfos – Capinfos is a command-line tool that is included with the Wireshark packet sniffer. It is used to display various statistics and information about capture files that have been saved using Wireshark or other packet sniffing tools. Capinfos allows users to view a summary of the capture file, including the number of packets, the start and end time of the capture, and the total amount of data captured. It also provides detailed information about the packets in the capture file, including the protocol distribution, packet size distribution, and packet rate. Capinfos is often used by cybersecurity professionals and network administrators to analyze and understand the traffic patterns and trends in a network.
• netsniff-ng – netsniff-ng is a command-line packet sniffer and network analysis tool that is designed for high-performance packet capture and analysis. It is an open-source tool that is commonly used for security testing, incident response, and network troubleshooting. netsniff-ng includes a variety of features and tools for capturing and analyzing network traffic, including support for multiple capture interfaces, real-time packet filtering, and the ability to decode and dissect packet contents. It is a powerful tool that is often used by cybersecurity professionals and network administrators to monitor and analyze network activity, identify potential security threats, and troubleshoot network issues. netsniff-ng is available for a variety of platforms, including Linux and Unix-based systems.
• Live HTTP headers – Live HTTP headers is a tool that is used to capture and display the HTTP headers of a web page or other HTTP request. HTTP headers are a type of metadata that is transmitted along with a web page or request, and they contain important information about the page or request, such as its content type, encoding, and other characteristics. Live HTTP headers allows users to view this metadata in real-time as they browse the web, which can be useful for a variety of purposes, including web development, debugging, and security testing. Live HTTP headers can be used as a standalone tool or as a plugin for web browsers such as Chrome or Firefox.
• NetMon (short for Network Monitor) is a packet sniffer that is included with the Windows operating system. It is a tool that is used to capture and analyze network traffic in order to troubleshoot network issues and identify potential security threats. NetMon can be used to capture packets of data transmitted over a network, allowing analysts to examine the contents and headers of each packet to understand the nature of the traffic and identify any potential threats. Some common uses of NetMon in cybersecurity include network analysis, troubleshooting, and incident response. NetMon is often used in conjunction with other tools and techniques, such as log analysis and data visualization, to provide a more complete picture of network activity.
• dSniff is a suite of sniffing tools that is commonly used in cybersecurity for security testing and incident response. It was developed by security researcher Dug Song and is designed to capture and analyze network traffic in order to identify potential security threats. The dSniff suite includes several different tools, including arpspoof, dnsiff, filesnarf, mailsnarf, msgsnarf, sshmitm, sshow, and webmitm. These tools allow users to capture and analyze traffic on a variety of different protocols, including HTTP, DNS, and SSH. dSniff is often used in combination with other tools and techniques in order to more effectively identify and mitigate security threats.
• Charles is a packet sniffer that is often used for debugging and testing web applications. It is a popular tool among developers and testers because it allows them to capture and analyze the traffic exchanged between a web application and a server. Charles can be used to inspect the contents and headers of each packet, which can be helpful in understanding how a web application is communicating with a server and identifying any potential issues or errors. In addition to capturing and analyzing network traffic, Charles also includes a variety of other features, such as the ability to throttle and simulate slow network conditions, replay traffic, and modify requests and responses.
• Fiddler is a packet sniffer that is commonly used for debugging and testing web applications. It captures and analyzes network traffic in real-time, allowing developers to understand how their web applications are communicating with servers and other systems. Fiddler includes a variety of tools and features that make it easy to analyze and understand the traffic being captured, including a graphical interface, a wide range of filters and search options, and the ability to capture and view traffic data in a variety of formats. In addition to its use in debugging and testing, Fiddler is also often used by cybersecurity professionals to analyze network traffic and identify potential security threats.
• TcpFlow is a command-line packet sniffer that is used for capturing and analyzing network traffic. It is designed to capture and decode TCP packets transmitted over a network, allowing users to examine the contents and headers of each packet in order to understand the nature of the traffic and identify any potential security threats. TcpFlow can be used for a variety of purposes, including network analysis, troubleshooting, and incident response. It is commonly used by cybersecurity professionals and network administrators to monitor network activity and identify potential security issues. TcpFlow is available for a variety of operating systems, including Linux, Unix, and Windows.