An Approach to Detect Packets Using Packet Sniffing

In the past decades computer network have kept up growing in size, complexity and along with it the number of its user is also being increased day by day. Hence the amount of network traffic flowing at each node has increased drastically. So to keep a track on these nodes a packet sniffer is used. Sometimes a packet sniffer is called a network monitor or network analyzer. Many system administrator or network administrator use it for monitoring and troubleshooting network traffic. Packet sniffers are useful for both wired and wireless networks. The purpose of this paper is to show the basics of packet sniffer, how it works in both switched and non switched environment, its practical approach, its positive vs negative aspects and its safe guards.