From: Allan Ballard (aballard_at_ix.netcom.com)
Date: Tue Jul 25 2000 - 11:55:00 EDT
can a 'sniffer' be used to capture selective
email -- or just all email headed to or from
someone or a business?
On Tue, 25 Jul 2000 11:17:11 -0400, David Newman wrote:
>>
>> What is a packet sniffer, if you don't mind.
>
>A sniffer* is a software and/or hardware tool that listens to the
>transmission medium for any traffic going by, captures it, and decodes the
>traffic for later analysis. Usually the medium is copper wire, or fiber
>optic cabling, but it doesn't have to be -- there are also sniffers for
>wireless networks that pick signals out of the air.
>
>> If I lived in a tech-savvy neighborhood, I'd want a packet sniffer on
>> my wireless net, especially if the surrounding homes could pick up my
>> signal.
>
>not sure how sniffer would be of any help as a defensive measure. One major
>security issue with sniffers is that they're passive devices and it's
>difficult if not impossible to tell when other folks are using them to
>capture your traffic.
>
>Regards,
>David Newman
>Network Test
>
>*Sniffer with a capital S is a trademark for a widely used commercial
>protocol analyzer. It was developed by Network General Corp., which was
>later acquired by Network Associates Inc.
>
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