What is packet-sniffing?

Answer 1

Packet sniffing is usually sniffs wireless transmissions. Sniffing is the interception of data or packets. The person who is suppose to receive the information still does but a third party has the ability to eavesdrop read the data. Packets can range from harmless info like your latest homework assignment or other more sensitive information like your Bank statement. The method to avoid a person sniffing your data sent wirelessly is to encrypt the data with modern day encryption algorithms.

Answer 2

A packet sniffer is a network communications analysis tool which can capture and display networking packets for certain protocols and physical layers, subject to the sniffer's design.

In its pure form, a sniffer is an not intrusive, passive device, which does not alter packets, or prevent them from reaching their intended destination. The packet content may or may not readable by machine or human, subject to the network protocol and available encryption options.

It is important to note that a packet sniffer can only capture and display packets which the sniffing device could have received if the packet was addressed to it: it is not possible to start a TCP/IP packet sniffer in one location and observe the whole of the internet's TCP/IP traffic.

Answer 3

A packet sniffer is a piece of software used for checking packets of data transferred over the Internet.