Every day, new threats are discovered that jeopardize the security of our information and devices. There's no shortage of creativity when it comes to maliciously diverting data and carrying out scams online . And one of the most dangerous threats today is the sniffer. In 2022 alone, there was a 37% increase in the rate of cyberattacks suffered in Brazil ( Checkpoint Software ), highlighting the vulnerability of digital security in the country.
Among all the dangers that permeate the internet, sniffers are a tool that has a huge impact on information security , the confidentiality of activities carried out in the digital environment, and our privacy.
Contrary to popular belief, sniffers were not created for malicious purposes. However, due to their functionality, they can also be used by cybercriminals in a very dangerous way, making it easy to expose all your digital activity.
To help you increase your company's protection and ensure the confidentiality of your information, we've prepared this material with everything you need to know about sniffer software: how it works and the best way to protect yourself from these threats. Keep reading and find out!
Sniffer: how it works and what its purpose is
Translated from English, "sniffer" can be understood as a tracker or sniffer. Within the technology field, "sniffer" refers to a scam used to track and monitor user activity , allowing those who use this resource to have real-time access to all traffic occurring on the monitored network.
The objectives of sniffer software will depend on the program being used. This means that it is possible to find various tools of this type on the market, which can be applied to analyze internet data packets , networks, and access patterns.
However, regardless of the type used, all are capable of monitoring user behavior on a network . When applied legitimately, a sniffer can help maintain stability in the flow of information, detect potential bottlenecks, and ensure network quality.
Understand how this monitoring happens in practice: Sniffing and methods for intercepting data traffic on computer networks.
For this monitoring to be possible, the sniffer captures data packets circulating on the network. This grants the tool's administrator access to monitor ongoing activities, verify all files transmitted over the network, such as documents, images, and message exchanges . With this access, the administrator has access to all the digital behavior of the monitored user.
Although hardware versions of this tool exist, the most commonly used type of sniffer today is in software format. Sniffer analysis occurs in two different ways:
Passive sniffer
In passive sniffers, the administrator can capture traffic without needing any direct interaction with the network or the device. In a network that uses hubs, traffic can flow freely. This means that the computer can receive all this traffic, but ignores everything that is not directly addressed to it . In this way, the sniffer can passively observe and monitor everything that passes through this network, making it extremely difficult to detect.
Active sniffer
This type of sniffer is used in larger networks, especially those that use network switches for traffic routing. In this case, it is necessary to bypass network restrictions imposed by the devices so that it can monitor the traffic. Because it is a tool that exhibits more interaction and more active behavior, this type of sniffer is easier to detect.
The main difference between these two types is that a passive sniffer can only see the information entering and leaving the machine where it is located, while an active sniffer bypasses blocks and data routing tools to perform monitoring more effectively.
Is a sniffer always a threat?
As we saw earlier, monitoring through sniffers is not a negative thing, being widely used by network administrators and managers to ensure greater traffic stability and connection quality. This is because by detecting bottlenecks, the sniffer can provide realistic information about the traffic to those responsible, and from there facilitate the application of resolving measures. However, many cybercriminals use tools of this type to carry out cyberattacks, as is the case with Spyware .
The monitoring software used by these cybercriminals can be found under various names, such as network monitor, network analyzer, Ethernet analyzer, packet analyzer , among others.
Regardless of the name, they all have the same objective, which is to spy on network traffic, digital behavior, and activities.
But how does it work in practice? To help you better understand how this tool works, let's use an analogy: imagine internet traffic as a large highway , where each car represents a data packet and the people inside those cars are the data itself.
The sniffer monitors each of these cars/packets as they circulate, regardless of whether they were targeted at the device or not. Depending on the cybercriminal's objective, these sniffers can monitor all data packets or only target a specific type of packet . This feature is a filter module that allows the manager, administrator, or cybercriminal to determine the type of information they wish to observe.
It is possible to protect yourself.
As we have seen, although created for legitimate purposes, sniffers can also be used to maliciously monitor the behavior of one or more users on the network. For this reason, it is important to implement tools and strategies to protect yourself, maintain the privacy of your data, and ensure the security of your information.
Here are some measures that can be used in this protection process:
Use an antivirus program.
Having a good antivirus is the first step in ensuring the security of your data and your device. It's important that it's a reliable, high-quality , professional antivirus that is always up-to-date and active to guarantee the protection of your data.
Avoid public Wi-Fi networks.
This type of network lacks the necessary security tools to protect your information. In most cases, public networks are more vulnerable to various types of attacks . They encourage the creation of access points to facilitate the actions of cybercriminals.
Don't forget to activate the Firewall.
Along with antivirus software, a firewall is an indispensable security tool for anyone seeking to protect their information and devices. For this reason, it's essential to keep your device's firewall always enabled to increase security and prevent unwanted and malicious software from entering your system.
Be aware of unsafe protocols.
The most robust protocols were created to keep your connection even more secure. This means that the HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) protocol provides extra protection, unlike the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) protocol. This certification helps maintain the security of your devices during data exchange.
Cryptography is essential.
Message exchange between apps and websites should utilize end-to-end encryption. This way, information sent and received through these applications will be better protected and encrypted both during transmission and reception.
Always protect yourself.
There are several threats that can jeopardize the confidentiality of your data and the security of your browsing. It's important to know the main scams currently being used and to be prepared to recognize them . On our website you will find a series of articles and rich materials detailing various types of scams , such as DDoS attacks , what the warning signs are, and the best way to protect yourself from these threats.
Controlling internet access could be a solution.
As we discussed earlier, it's essential to have a good antivirus and keep your firewall enabled. Along with an internet usage policy , having these resources can make all the difference when it comes to data protection.
Blocking access to websites considered harmful can be a good solution to effectively protect yourself from Sniffers.
Tools like DNS Filter , Next DNS and Lumiun are interesting and well-structured alternatives.
If your goal is to ensure the protection of your devices, networks, and data, you need to consider hiring an efficient and robust tool.
Just as technology advances, so do new strategies for information theft, espionage, and malicious activities, and you must always be one step ahead of them.
I hope this text has helped you and your company.
Until later!
