Monday, November 24, 2008

Top 10 Uses of Packet Sniffer Software

Packet Sniffer software is a network monitoring tool that helps us to be in control of our network 24/7. All computer networks that are connected to the internet are highly vulnerable to security risks. If our networks are not constantly monitored, we can easily become a prey for the hackers. Packet sniffer software logs all traffic and all data that is sent in and out of the network that matches the specific packet criteria set by the network administrator.

Packet sniffer software has a number of uses and all of them are of critical nature.

  1. Whenever there is a network related problem, we need some basic clues so that we can start addressing the problems. We will be able to get these clues from the packet sniffer software that is installed in the network. Therefore, packet sniffer software will not only help us monitor the network, but it will also help us analyze the network traffic so that we can identify any problem that crops up in the shortest time possible.
  2. If there are any unauthorized intrusions, we will be able to detect the intrusions in good time. This will help us protect our network from the hackers.
  3. We will be able to monitor the usage levels of the network at any given time. This will help us optimize the usage if we need to.
  4. Using packet sniffer software we can keep a tab on each user in the network and gather sensitive information including passwords.
  5. Packet sniffers will also be useful to monitor ‘on the fly’ network traffic to determine what is going on in the network at any given time.
  6. Packet sniffers are not only useful for network administrators, it is also useful for programmers and security professionals to study the network traffic and possible loopholes so that they can be sealed.
  7. Parents can keep a tab on their children’s online PC usage.
  8. For those who are in learning stages packet sniffer will help them understand various protocols of the network such as HTTP, POP3, STMP, etc.
  9. The reports generated can be used to build reliable statistics about the network use.
  10. You will be able to find reasons for system slowdown. Using the packet sniffer software you will be able to troubleshoot the problem in the shortest time possible.

There many other uses besides the ones mentioned above. In addition, there are many packet sniffer software products available in the market. When you want to install packet sniffer software in your network, you must spend enough time in identifying the best packet sniffer software. The product you select should be a versatile tool and a popular product that has been tested in a variety of situations. It should be capable of handling small as well as large network without causing any problems in the network. One of the best packet sniffer software available in the market is Colasoft Capsa. For more information about this versatile tool, visit Colasoft.com.

About Colasoft
Ever since 2001, Colasoft has been dedicated in providing all-in-one and easy-to-use network analysis software for customers to monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot their network. Up to now, more than 4000 customers in over 70 countries trust the flagship product – Capsa as their network monitoring and troubleshooting solution. The company also offers four free network utilities: Colasoft Packet Builder, Colasoft Packet Player, Colasoft MAC Scanner, and Colasoft Ping Tool. Learn more today at http://www.colasoft.com/



Colasoft Capsa is an easy-to-use packet sniffer for network monitoring and troubleshooting. It performs real-time packet capturing, 24/7 network monitoring, advanced protocol analyzing, in-depth packet decoding, and automatic expert diagnosing. By giving you insights into all of your network's operations, Capsa makes it easy to isolate and solve network problems, identify network bottleneck and bandwidth use, and detect network vulnerabilities.
 
Free counter and web stats