Linux Desktop Hacks

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Chapter 8, Desktop Programs

#66 Scan for Wireless Networks

HACK

If you press the i key with a network selected, you can find out general

information about it. The

r key gives you a detailed ASCII graph with the

current packet rate—useful for determining how much traffic is available.

Another useful mode is the statistics view (

a key), which indicates channel

usage and the total number of servers and networks.

You also can use Kismet in conjunction with a GPS unit to plot wireless net-

works on a map

[Hack #67].

Using Kismet might leave your network card in an unstable

state. Reload your network card drivers if you experience

problems after using Kismet.

Dumpster-Diving the Kismet Way

At this point in your use of Kismet, you have looked at the main methods of

scanning for networks. Although the information inside the Kismet interface

is useful, you also can use Kismet’s other tools to find out even more infor-

mation about the traffic on the network. The most common method of doing

this is by capturing the raw data sent across the wireless network and then

using some tools to crack open and sift through the captured information.

When you run Kismet, the raw data it collects is stored in your home direc-

tory in a series of *.dump files. These files contain data stored as pcap infor-

mation (a common network packet format). You can use packet analysis

tools to open these dumps and identify patterns ...