Packet Sniffing

Intercepting and analyzing network packets to capture sensitive data.

Understanding:

Packet sniffing is the process of intercepting and analyzing network traffic, often used for troubleshooting but also exploited by attackers to capture sensitive data, login credentials, and confidential information.

Common Applications and Use Cases:

Network Monitoring & Troubleshooting – IT admins use tools like Wireshark to analyze traffic.
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks – Attackers intercept unencrypted data for credential theft.
Session Hijacking – Capturing cookies or authentication tokens to impersonate users.

Best Practices and Security Considerations:

Use Encrypted Communication – Enforce TLS, SSH, and VPN usage.
Implement Network Segmentation – Prevent attackers from accessing sensitive traffic.
Monitor for Unusual Traffic Patterns – Detect unauthorized sniffing activity.