Why is wireshark,the network protocol analyzer and sniffer offered for free?

Question

Wireshark may allow attackers and hackers also to view the packets....so,is there not a loss of security.....then why is it obtained for free??

Answer 1

Correction -- WinPcap allows attackers or hackers to view packets, not Wireshark.



Why is wireshark free? Because it's under the GNU license, and because they have something better to offer.



tu_tall -- SSL data can also be captured :-)

http://www.komodia.com/index.php?page=sniffer.htm

Answer 2

Ya that's a good question. Wireshark is a useful tool for troubleshooting network problems, but like everything some bad people get a hold of it and turns it into a big problem. That's why for logins now it uses the https that uses the secure socket layer encryption to prevent that login from appearing in clear text in that program. Conversations in MSN appear plan as day in that program :(



Okay so SSL has been hacked now to, nothing is 100% full proof anyway. For Wireshark it doesn't show ssl, I have used the program for my networking classes.

Answer 3

relies upon on the cookies and what they suspect in lol i'm unlikely to connect it in the event that they'll kill me!! however the unfastened top rate cable sounds quite good! (as u can see i can offered particularly honestly!)