Computer Network Application Sniffing

Computer Network Application Sniffing,A sniffer is an application that can capture network packets. Sniffers are also known as network protocol analyzers. While protocol analyzers are really network troubleshooting tools, they are also used by hackers for hacking network. If the network packets are not encrypted, the data within the network packet can be read using a sniffer. Sniffing refers to the process used by attackers to capture network traffic using a sniffer. Once the packet is captured using a sniffer, the contents of packets can be analyzed. Sniffers are used by hackers to capture sensitive network information, such as passwords, account information etc.

Many sniffers are available for free download. Leading packet sniffers are wireshark, Dsniff, Etherpeek, sniffit etc.

Sniffing involves capturing, decoding, inspecting and interpreting the information inside a network packet on a TCP/IP network. The purpose is to steal information, usually user IDs, passwords, network details, credit card numbers, etc. Sniffing is generally referred to as a “passive” type of attack, where in the attackers can be silent/invisible on the network. This makes it difficult to detect, and hence it is a dangerous type of attack.