Packet Sniffers is free for Windows 2003 / Vista / 2008

Packet Sniffer is often used to analyze network traffic. The reason for using Packet Sniffer is to configure the NIC to work in a mode called " promiscous ". If not working in that mode, the NIC normally works in "filter" mode, which ignores all traffic that does not belong to it. With working in " promiscuos " mode, we have allowed to capture any frame transmitted on the network even if it is not for that NIC. Packet Sniffer is actually an eavesdropping device that is plugged into a computer on the network and eavesdrop on the traffic on that network.

Some typical functions of Packet Sniffer program :

- Automatically select passwords and usernames from the network. Used to unlock the system.

- Convert data into readable format so that people can read traffic.

- Analysis of defects to detect network problems, such as why computer A cannot talk to computer B.

- Demonstrate analysis to detect the "bottlenecks" of the network.

- Detecting network intrusion to find hackers / crackers.

- Remember the network traffic log, help to trace the hackers.

Below we will look at the most popular and effective packet sniffer programs.

Microsoft Network Monitor 3.2

Since Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft has a good packet sniffer program, Network Monitor, Microsoft Network Monitor 3.2, a new version of Netmon, which allows you to capture, view and analyze network data and decoding protocol. You can use it to help diagnose network problems and network applications.

Download Microsoft Network Monitor has both 32 bit and 64 bit versions

Wireshark

Wireshark is the world's best network protocol analyzer, and is the standard for many educational and industrial organizations. Wireshark is used by network professionals around the world to solve software development and protocol analysis. It has all the standard features you would expect in a protocol analyzer and some features not found in any other product. It runs on all the most popular operating systems, including Unix, Linux, and Windows.

Download Wireshark here .

IP Sniffer

IP Sniffer has basic features like filter, decode, replay, parse

Some IP Sniffer tools are: bandwidth management, Adapter statistics, listing and managing ARP entries, analyzing IP from / to Mac, scanning ARP, creating ARP proxies, sending a WAKEUP call, RARP client / server , list and manage routers, enable & disable hosts as a route, list and manage open ports and associated processes, view network configuration (interfaces, adapters, parameters), Spoof ARP, replace change MAC address, SNMP Get & Set, List interface, switch port mapper, attachment Unit table, Net to media table, network statistics, table connection, WINS and DNS query, Whois Query and many other features.

Download IP Sniffer

PacketMon

PacketMon is a fast and simple tool that uses network monitoring. It allows you to capture IP packets transmitted through your network interface - it starts from a machine that Packetmon is installed, or another machine on your network. When a packet is received, you can check its headers and content, and you can export those results to a file that allows you to import your favorite programs. In addition, PacketMon has a powerful rule system that allows you to narrow down the packets that will be captured to make sure you get exactly the packets you need.

Download Packetmon

SmartSniff

SmartSniff allows you to capture TCP / IP packets through your network card, and view captured data as a series of conversations between the client and server. You can view TCP / IP conversations under Ascii mode (including protocols like HTTP, SMTP, POP3, FTP) or in hex dump format (like DNS)

Download SmartSniff

VisualSniffer

Visual Sniffer is a powerful packet capture tool and a protocol analyzer used for Windows systems. VisualSniffer 2.0 is a free software. VisualSniffer can be used by LAN administrators, and it is very professional in security with intrusion detection systems and network traffic logs. It can also be used by network program writers for the purpose of checking the development of sending and receiving programs, or other purposes. For example, parents want to know what their children are doing when online. If you store important data on the system, you need to know whether your data is sent out by "Adware" or "Spyware". If you are a student, you may want to know how your network works and the mechanism of each network protocol.

Download Visual Sniffer