18.1. Understanding Network Scanners

Network scanner has become a broad term often referring to a family of tools used to analyze our networks, but the CompTIA Network+ objectives are much less vague. So with regard to those critical objectives, know that network scanners refer to these three tools:

  • Packet sniffers

  • Intrusion Detection System / Intrusion Prevention System (IDS/IPS) software

  • Port scanners

18.1.1. Packet Sniffers

Unlike port scanners, packet sniffers actually look inside every packet on a network segment. Packet sniffers come in many flavors, and some of them, like Microsoft's Network Monitor (NetMon), are even free today. Even though NetMon comes in more complex versions that are, well, not exactly free, the version that comes ...

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